Trivia

She was awarded the 2008 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Featured Role for her performance as "Mattie Fay Aiken" in the play, "August: Osage County" performed first at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago and at the Imperial Theater in New York City.

Has been a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company since 1979.

Starred as Madame Morrible in the Chicago production of "Wicked". (July 2005)

Tony Award winner: Actress (Featured Role) in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play - "August: Osage County" - by Tracy Letts. (2008)

She was nominated for a 1989 Joseph Jefferson Award for Director of a Play for "Stepping Out" at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

She was nominated for a 1990 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for "Funny Girl" at the Marriott Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

She was awarded the Joseph Jefferson Award for her performance in the stage production of "The Fall to Earth" in 2004.

She was awarded the Sarah Siddons Award in 1991 for her performance in the stage production of "Another Time".

She was awarded the 1982 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Supporting Role in a Play for "Waiting for the Parade" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

She acted as "Madame Morible" in the Broadway musical production of "Wicked" in New York City with Nicole Parker as "Elfaba". (March 2009)

She was awarded the 2004 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Principal Role in a play for "Fall to Earth" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

She was nominated for a 1983 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Supporting Role in a Play for "Cloud Nine" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

She was nominated for a 1984 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Principal Role in a Play for "Fool for Love" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

She was nominated for a 1988 Joseph Jefferson Award for Director of a Play for "The Common Pursuit" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

She was nominated for a 2005 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Supporting Role in a Play for "Romeo & Juliet" at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Chicago, Illinois.

She was nominated for a 2005 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for "Wicked" at the Broadway in Chicago-Wicked Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.

She was nominated for a 2006 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Principal Role in a Play for "The Retreat from Moscow" at the Northlight Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

She was nominated for the 2011 Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Principal Role in a Play for "The Outgoing Tide" at the Northlight Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

She is a lifelong Democrat.