She attended the Juilliard School's drama division,[5][6] as a member of Group 19 (1986–1990), where her classmates included Jeanne Tripplehorn and Laura Linney.
[2] Schaffel's first major acting job was in 1991 with the original Broadway production of Les Misérables, as a swing and understudying the role of Fantine.
She had a small role in the television series Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, as Tyler Smith, Peter Caine's girlfriend in season 1.
Following Titanic, Jane Eyre received its Broadway try-out at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego from July to September 1999.
Schaffel was cast once more as Jane, with former castmates Mary Stout, Elizabeth DeGrazia and Don Richard; joining as Rochester was James Stacy Barbour.
Before Jane Eyre opened on Broadway, she originated and created the role of Judith in the play Glimmerglass at the Goodspeed Opera House for the world première in 1999.