She began her career starring in the daytime television soap operas Ryan's Hope and Santa Barbara, before playing the lead in the short-lived sitcom Women in Prison (1987–1988).
Her most noted role to date was "mean girl" Christie Masters in the 1997 comedy film Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.
[4] She was a regular cast member on short-lived sitcoms Cutters (1993), Blue Skies (1994), A Whole New Ballgame (1995), Men Behaving Badly (1996) and Champs (1996).
She also had recurring roles on Herman's Head, Martial Law, Still Standing and Dexter, and guest-starred on Ally McBeal, Malcolm in the Middle, Seinfeld ("The Frogger" episode), Friends, House, The Mentalist, The Practice, The Pretender, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal Minds and Justified.
She co-starred in the 2002 miniseries Rose Red and had a starring role in the 2006 drama film, Tillamook Treasure (2006), in which she plays Kathryn Kimbell, the mother of the story's lead character.