An accomplished American screenwriter, director, and producer, she was born in San Francisco in 1960. She studied at UC Berkeley and UCLA before embarking on a successful career in the film industry. Her work often focused on strong female characters and heartfelt storytelling. She was best known for writing and directing "Under the Tuscan Sun" and scripting "The Truth About Cats & Dogs" and "The Hate U Give." Her creative contributions left a lasting impact on contemporary cinema.