She has one older brother, Mark. After college, she pursued acting full-time in Los Angeles. She was in the Kevin Tancharoen-directed short film Mortal Kombat: Rebirth as Sonya Blade. in 1990, while dealing blackjack at a charity event, the actress met investment banker and future Republican political candidate Jack Ryan. Between February and November 2000, they were stalked by Marlon Estacio Pagtakhan, who was convicted for harassment and threats in May 2001.
