She grew up in North Miami Beach, Florida, and graduated from Pine Crest School, where she was elected Homecoming Queen in 1977.

She attended Northwestern University (BS Communications, 1981), where she was initiated as a member of Alpha Chi Omega and a sorority sister of Laura Innes; and graduated with an MFA from the Yale Drama School in 1985.

Subsequently, she landed title roles in more stage productions, which include Henry VIII, Tru, and The Art of Success.

In 2009, she starred as Ruth Condomine in a Broadway revival of Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit,[1] which co-starred Rupert Everett, Christine Ebersole, and Angela Lansbury.

Her television acting credits include A Year in the Life, Parenthood, The X-Files, Law & Order, The Practice, Criminal Minds, 24, Gossip Girl and House of Cards, opposite Kevin Spacey and husband Michel Gill.