Trivia

One of the few actors to have made guest appearances on all four of the Law & Order franchises.

She was pre-med in college. She was studying to be a surgeon and participated in college plays. After 4 years of pre-med, she decided to become an actress.

She was awarded the 1987 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Supporting Role in a Play for "The Normal Heart", at the Next Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

Has 3 children with her husband Lawrence Arancio: Liam, Emily and Trust Arancio.

Daughter of John and Dolores (Clark) Dowd, and one of seven children. Her grandfather, James "Kip" Dowd, was a Major League baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Dowd Agencies, an insurance company, was started by her great-grandfather.

She was awarded the 1984 Joseph Jefferson Award Citation For Actress in a Principal Role in a Play for "Kennedy's Children", at the Pegasus Players in Chicago, Illinois.

Nominated for the 2018 Emmy Award in the Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category for her role as Aunt Lydia in The Handmaid's Tale (2017), but lost to Thandiwe Newton from Westworld (2016).

Won the 1993 Clarence Derwent award for "Candida", presented to outstanding newcomers to the New York theater scene.

She was awarded the 1983 Joseph Jefferson Award Citation for Actress in a Principal Role in a Play for "A Different Moon", at the Next Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

Attended Goodman School of Drama (now The Theatre School at DePaul University) in Chicago.

Has 4 sisters and 2 brothers: Kathleen, Elizabeth, Clare, Deborah, John and Gregory Dowd.

She spent $13,000 of her own money to print and send DVDs of Compliance (2012) to Academy members in hopes of landing an Oscar nomination, but was not nominated.

Bronx, New York (February 2009)