Made her stage debut at 8 in a production of Pinocchio
Began acting professionally as a teenager, appearing in commercials for chewing gum and cereal
First starring role came with the 1982 ABC Afterschool Special Amy and the Angel
Dyed her hair blonde and gained 20 pounds for her feature debut as Supergirl (1984)
Along with actor Gina Gershon, cofounded New York theatre group the Naked Angels in 1987; also cofounded two Los Angeles theatre groups, Otis Inspired and the Bubalaires