Growing up in Ludlow, Massachusetts, West attended Boston University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in fine arts.

[1] In 1995, West joined the cast of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns in the role of Carly Tenney.

[5] West also received three nominations for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2004,[6] 2008[7] and 2009;[8] winning twice, in 2007[9] and in 2010.

[11] It was announced in August 2010 that West would join the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, as the third actress to portray Diane Jenkins.

[22] West has been married twice: to director Jonathan Knight from 1995 until their divorce in 1999, and to former As the World Turns costar Scott DeFreitas since January 22, 2000.