Her father, Romulus Linney, was a writing teacher who authored over 30 plays
Roomed with actress Jeanne Tripplehorn while attending a graduate program at Juilliard
Recreated the character Mary Ann Singleton for the miniseries Tales of the City and its sequels based on the books by Armistead Maupin, with whom she maintains a close friendship
After seeing her breakout performance in Primal Fear, Clint Eastwood picked her to portray his daughter in 1997's Absolute Power
Played wife to actor Liam Neeson's John Proctor on Broadway in a 2002 revival of The Crucible and again onscreen as the wife of sex researcher Alfred Kinsey in Kinsey (2004)
Portrayed a matchmaker and the last of Dr
Frasier Crane's loves during the final season of Frasier
Met her second husband while attending the Telluride film festival and was given away at the marriage ceremony by Neeson
Drawn to the part of a woman dealing with a cancer diagnosis on the comedy-drama The Big C, accepted the lead role when made an executive producer
Awards
2021Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama:nominated
2020Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series:nominated
2020Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:nominated
2020Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:nominated
2019Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:nominated
2017Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series:nominated
2013Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie:winner
2012Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical:nominated
2011Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical:winner
2011Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:nominated
2009Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television:winner
2008Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries:winner
2008Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie:winner
2007Chicago Film Critics Association-Best Actress:nominated
2007Detroit Film Critics Society-Best Actress:nominated
2007Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:nominated
2007Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama:nominated
2006Australian Film Institute Awards-Best Lead Actress:nominated