She spent years behind the scenes, ironing shirts between performances just for a place to sleep. Too broke for subway fare, she walked miles to auditions across New York. Her journey to stardom began in silence—offstage and fueled by grit.

Raised in Charleston, West Virginia, she grew up under strict rules. Her parents valued modesty and education over appearance. Makeup was banned. Compliments were rare. Her older sister, Melissa, stood out; she struggled to feel seen.

Theater became her outlet. Though she majored in chemistry, reading Crimes of the Heart changed everything—she switched to drama.

After college, she joined the Georgia Shakespeare Festival and later moved to New York with no savings. She slept on a kitchen floor, walked to auditions, and ironed costumes for housing.

In 1998, her hustle paid off: she landed a role in Felicity. It wasn’t stardom yet—but it was the start she fought for.