Felicity Huffman

The 56-year-old actress was spotted in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday, where she appeared to be starting her required 250 hours of community service. 

Wearing jeans and a black turtleneck -- which she paired with a matching headband, flats, and sunglasses -- a smiling Huffman was spotted leaving The Teen Project building in L.A. after spending three hours there. According to the organization's website, it serves at risk homeless and sex trafficked young women, many of whom are from foster care.

The Emmy-winning actress, 56, could face prison time after she admitted to participating in the scam, in which authorities say parents bribed coaches, rigged entrance exams or both to game the admissions system.

Huffman pleaded guilty in a US court to paying an admissions consultant US$15,000 to have a proctor correct her older daughter's answers on the SAT. 

She also considered going through with the plan for her younger daughter before ultimately deciding not to, authorities say.

The Desperate Housewives star said she had "betrayed" her daughter and was "ashamed" of the pain she had caused.

Ms Huffman is accused of paying $15,000 (£11,500) to have her daughter's exam questions covertly corrected in 2017.

The 56-year-old is one of 14 people set to plead guilty among the 50 charged, who include college athletic coaches.

In a statement, she said: "I am in full acceptance of my guilt, and with deep regret and shame over what I have done, I accept full responsibility for my actions and will accept the consequences that stem from those actions.