Born and raised in Illinois

Originally trained as an opera singer

Sang and danced at Opryland theme park in Nashville, Tennessee during summer breaks in college (dates approximate)

Professional musical debut in Chicago-area production of "Camelot"

Auditioned for the role of Eva Peron in "Evita"; not hired but casting director chose her to understudy the role of Maria in Broadway revival of "West Side Story"

Moved to NYC

Co-starred in the short-lived Broadway musical "Oh Brother"

Served as understudy for the role of Constanze Mozart in "Amadeus"

Appeared in the workshop version of the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine show "Sunday in the Park With George"

Had small role in Martin Scorsese's "The King of Comedy"; part edited out of released version

Film debut in "Scarface", playing Gina the sister of Tony Montana (played by Al Pacino)

Co-starred in the stage musical "The Human Comedy"

Played Katherine opposite Kevin Kline's "Henry V" in NYC's Central Park

TV-movie debut in "Mussolini: The Untold Story" (NBC); portrayed Edda Mussolini

Cast as Tom Cruise's girlfriend in Scorsese's "The Color of Money"; earned Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress

Starred opposite Mandy Patinkin in the Off-Broadway musical "The Knife"

Co-starred opposite Kline in "The January Man", directed by future husband Pat O'Connor

Acted role of Viola in all-star New York Shakespeare Festival production of "Twelfth Night" in Central Park

Portrayed Ed Harris estranged wife working side-by-side with her husband in James Cameron's underwater epic "The Abyss"

Reteamed with O'Connor for the period drama "Fools of Fortune"

Settled in London after her marriage

Played Maid Marian to Kevin Costner's "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves"

Made second feature with Kevin Kline, "Consenting Adults", a murky thriller involving wife swapping and murder

Briefly returned to the New York stage in the Lincoln Center production "Northeast Local"

Reunited with Al Pacino, this time as his daughter in the sentimental drama "Two Bits"

Contributed narration to the PBS special "The West"

Appeared as a Scottish wife and mother in "My Life So Far"

Cast as a singer who falls for a fisherman in John Sayles' "Limbo"

Starred opposite Tom Sizemore in the HBO drama "Witness Protection"

Portrayed Linda Greenlaw, the only female fishing boat captain, in the feature version of the best-selling nonfiction book "The Perfect Storm"