Born in Algeria of American parents; raised in Aruba. Came to US at age 15; attended Cornell University (political science & Russian). A schoolmate of Martin Scorsese at NYU, she later collaborated on several of the director's films (*), winning Academy Awards for editing RAGING BULL (1980) and THE AVIATOR (2004). She was also nominated for Academy Awards for Michael Wadleigh's feature documentary WOODSTOCK (1970, also asst. director) and Scorsese's GOODFELLAS (1990). Other notable (non-nominated) credits include FINNEGAN'S WAKE (1965), WHO'S THAT KNOCKING AT MY DOOR* (1968), THE VIRGIN PRESIDENT (1968), STREET SCENES* (1970), TAXI DRIVER* (1976, uncredited), WINGS OVER THE WORLD (1979, TV), THE KING OF COMEDY* (1983), BAD* (1985), THE COLOR OF MONEY* (1986), THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST* (1988), NEW YORK STORIES* (1989, Segment 1), MADE IN MILAN* (1990), CAPE FEAR* (1991), THE AGE OF INNOCENCE* (1993), CASINO* (1995), GRACE OF MY HEART (1996), KUNDUN* (1997), MIO VIAGGIO IN ITALIA / MY VOYAGE TO ITALY* and BRINGING OUT THE DEAD* (both 1999), GANGS OF NEW YORK* (2002), THE AVIATOR* (2004), THE DEPARTED* (2006), FRANKIE MACHINE*, SILENCE* and THE RISE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT* (all announced for 2008). She was married to British director Michael Powell from 1984 until his death in 1990. She describes her marriage as a "blissfully happy union."  Nominated for Film Editing 1970: WOODSTOCK  Film Editing 1980: RAGING BULL  Nominated for Film Editing 1990: GOODFELLAS  Nominated for Achievement in Film Editing 2002: GANGS OF NEW YORK  Best Achievement in Film Editing 2004: THE AVIATOR  Best Achievement in Film Editing 2006: THE DEPARTED 6 nominations, 3 Awards