Graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1981 [1981]

After five years of portraying Medical Examiner Melinda Warner on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999), she was finally given main cast billing in the seventh season. (2005)

When she was portraying the character of 'Jessica Griffin' on the daytime drama "As the World Turns" (1956), one of her mentors, actress/director/drama coach Billie Allen, portrayed her character's mother 'Louise' (1994).

Shares a birthday with Michael Caine, Mercedes McNab, Kylie Tyndall, Keaton Tyndall, Quincy Jones, Chris Klein, & Jamie Bell

Her father still operates the family business, a funeral home, in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In 2007, she received a Tony Award as co-producer for the musical "Spring Awakening". She was also a Tony Award nominee (Best Play) for co-producing August Wilson's Radio Golf.