Biography
She first rose to fame as the mischievous teen who, along with computer nerd Matthew Broderick, almost starts WWIII in "WarGames" (1983) and as the misfit weirdo spending a day in detention in the John Hughes classic, "The Breakfast Club" (1985). Her next blockbuster vehicle was the post-college drama "St. Elmo's Fire" (1985), where she played a headstrong Gen-Xer who wants to live life to the fullest before settling into married life. All …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
| Started dancing with the American Ballet Theatre at age six | ||
1973 | Made professional debut with the American Ballet Theatre | |
1974 | Wrote best-selling children's book, She Was Nice to Mice at age 12 | |
1977 | Began appearing in TV commercials at age 15; first one was for "Burger King" | |
1981 | Made her TV movie debut in "The Best Little Girl in the World" (ABC) | |
1983 | Co-starred with Matthew Broderick in "WarGames" | |
1983 | Had a recurring role of a Catholic high school girl on "Hill Street Blues" (NBC) | |
1983 | Played Sean Penn's girlfriend in her film debut, "Bad Boys" | |
1984 | First film with Rob Lowe, "Oxford Blues" | |
1985 | Had breakout role as Allison, the basket case, in John Hughes' "The Breakfast Club" | |
1985 | Joined an ensemble cast for Joel Schumacher's "St. Elmo's Fire | |
1986 | Co-starred with Steve Guttenberg in the sci-fi comedy, "Short Circuit" | |
1987 | Starred as a spoiled rich girl in "Maid to Order" | |
1990 | Re-teamed with her "Breakfast Club" co-star, Molly Ringwald in "Betsy's Wedding" | |
1991 | Made Off-Broadway acting debut in "Advice From a Caterpillar" | |
1998 | Had best screen role in years as a drug-addicted photographer in "High Art" | |
1999 | Cast as a repressed Hollywood production designer in "Sugar Town" | |
1999 | Gave a delightful comic turn as a distressed woman in "I'll Take You There" | |
1999 | Returned to the Off-Broadway stage playing the lead role of a transsexual rock singer in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" | |
2003 | Reunited with "Breakfast Club" co-star Anthony Michael Hall when she appeared on his television show, "The Dead Zone" (USA Network) | |
2007 | Had a supporting role as a psychiatrist in "Day Zero" | |
2008 | Had a recurring role on "Kyle XY" (ABC Family) as Sarah, the mother of all genetically enhanced mysteries | |
2010 | Played Melissa Leo's sister in "Welcome to the Rileys" | |
Awards
1998 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress in High Art |
1998 | National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress in High Art |
1999 | Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead in High Art |