Enrolled at the North Carolina School of the Arts when she was 14 to study ballet
Began dancing professionally when she was 17 and traveled the world with different troupes, including a modern-dance company founded by Karole Armitage
While touring in Los Angeles in 1987, became acquainted with Dennis Hopper, whom she would later marry
Decided to switch careers and study acting under Sanford Meisner after she watched Sydney Pollack's documentary on the famed teacher
Met her second husband, French Stewart, in 1996 when she guest starred as his love interest on an episode of 3rd Rock From the Sun
Owned and operated her own interior-design business called Casa LaNasa