Beginning in the late 1970s, acclaimed film, television and stage actress Christine Lahti carved out a niche for herself in an emerging field for Hollywood actresses — roles as professional, independent career women. Uninterested in wasting her dedication to acting on thinly-written supporting roles as girlfriends and wives, Lahti was in the right place at the right time and gave strong showings in character-driven films like “Whose Life is it Anyway?” (1981), "Swing Shift” (1984) and “Running on Empty” (1988), for which she earned an Academy Award nomination. In between film roles as smart,
Worked as a singing waitress one summer during college; travelled to Scotland as a member of the Ann Arbor Mime Troupe, then went to London, appearing in a mime production of Shakespeare's "The Tempest"
1973
Moved to New York City; supported herself as a waitress by day and performed off-off Broadway by night; even worked as a mime for a while in Central Park, battling an imaginary wind as her roommate honked inexpertly on a clarinet
Appeared in commercials first for rug shampoo Spray 'n Vac, then for eight other products including Sominex and Joy dishwashing liquid
1977
First Off-Broadway appearance as the female lead opposite Chris Sarandon in David Mamet's "The Woods" at the New York Shakespeare Festival's Public Theater
1978
TV debut as Tania Reston in live-action, comic book adventure (movie-series pilot) "Dr Scorpion"
