Travis' life took traditional turn - and so does her new TV sitcom, premiering tonight

Twenty years ago - yikes! -

Nancy Travis

played opposite

Steve Guttenberg

,

Tom Selleck

and

Ted Danson

in "Three Men and a Baby," a little comedy that went on to gross $167 million (real money back then) and establish Travis as an actress with star potential.

Over a busy next six years she appeared in 10 more movies including the "Baby" sequel, John Sayles' "Eight Men Out," Jonathan Demme's "Married to the Mob," "Internal Affairs," and "Air America," and as the lead opposite Mike Myers in "I Married an Axe Murderer."

Then disaster struck.

She turned 30.

If that wasn't enough to stall her career, soon after, she got married (to producer Robert Fried).

A few years later she had children.

Although she's worked steadily since in television ("Becker") and in smaller roles in movies ("The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," "The Jane Austen Book Club"), Travis knows she made a choice to let her career take a back seat to her family - and she doesn't regret it.

"I'm not a film commodity anymore," she said during a head-turning visit to the Daily News newsroom last week. "I'm older - in my 40s - and it takes a lot to convince Hollywood that women in their 40s have lives and stories."

So Travis is thrilled to be part of the new TBS sitcom, "The Bill Engvall Show" (premiering tonight at 9), in which she plays Susan, wife and mother.

"It's a traditional family sitcom," Travis said, recalling what was once a TV staple and has now almost vanished from the airwaves.

"I play this woman who's in a position that a lot of women find themselves. Her kids are growing up and they don't really need her anymore. . . . Who is this woman today?

"It's very real, very relate-able. You'll feel great watching it."

And Travis feels great doing it. Unlike TV dramas with their 16-hour days and six-day work weeks, the sitcom format allows her to see her kids off to school and still be home for dinner, she said.

"It's a very nurturing environment," She said.

Travis must be bringing the good vibes home with her. Her 9-year-old son recently told her that he wants to be an actor when he grows up.

"He's young yet," she said with a shrug of the shoulders. "I'm not running out to get him an agent." *