Her father is an architect, and her mother is a clinical social worker who co-founded the Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis.
[1][2] She attended Clayton High School and Vassar College, graduating from the latter in 1995[3] after majoring in art.
[1] After Vassar, she moved to New York City, where she studied with William Esper, a protégé of Sanford Meisner, and worked off-Broadway.
She appeared in One Hour Photo, Wheelmen, and House of 1000 Corpses[4] before becoming a major cast member of Showtime's The L Word.
[6] Daniels has also appeared in the TV shows Action, Jericho, Dexter, Saving Grace, Big Shots, Justice, CSI, and Swingtown.