An American actress born on May 1, 1972, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she began her career as a competitive figure skater before transitioning to acting. Her early work included roles in television shows and films in the 1990s. She gained prominence for her role as Darla on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and its spin-off "Angel." She is also known for her role as Rita Morgan on the acclaimed series "Dexter," for which she received significant recognition. Her career spans diverse genres in both TV and film.