Raised in New Mexico and Texas

Received scholarship to study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse

Worked for a season playing walk-on roles at a stock company in Louisville, Kentucky

Moved to NYC; supported herself as a waitress and dress model (for Herbert Sondheim, father of composer Stephen Sondheim)

Joined the Interplayers, a theater group whose members included playwright Michael V. Gazzo, actor-director Gene Saks and actor-director Sidney Lumet

Became a member of the theater group Off-Broadway Inc.

Garnered attention for her performance in the Off-Broadway show "Yes Is for a Very Young Man"

Made Broadway debut replacing Julie Harris in "Monserrat"

Enjoyed theatrical success portraying a lovesick pre-teen in "Picnic" by William Inge

Garnered critical praise as the nightclub singer Cherie in Inge's "Bus Stop"

Departed the Broadway production of "A Touch of the Poet", co-starring Helen Hayes and Eric Portman, after falling into conflict with Portman; she later claimed he struck a bit too enthusiastically in one scene and left the production; received Tony nomination as Best Actress nevertheless

London stage debut, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"

Film debut, the starring role in "The Goddess"

Starred in Anita Loos' stage adaptation of Colette's "Cherie"

Picked up second Tony nomination for turn as a woman afflicted with hysterical paralysis in "A Far Country"

Won an Emmy for a guest appearance on "Ben Casey"

Final NYC stage appearance in "Three Sisters", with Geraldine Page, Shirley Knight and Sandy Dennis; production filmed

Earned Best Actress Oscar nomination as a medium in "Seance on a Wet Afternoon"; last film for 18 years

Returned to New Mexico and began teaching

TV-movie debut in "Flesh and Blood" (NBC)

Returned to NYC; served as artistic director at a small theater company

Return to films as the title character's mother in the biopic "Frances"; received Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination; first screen collaboration with Jessica Lange

Final film, "The Right Stuff"; played pilot Pancho Barnes

Last TV appearance to date, co-starred with Lange in "Cat on a Hit Tin Roof" (Showtime/PBS); won second Emmy Award

Once again returned to New Mexico to live and teach