Born in New York City; trained at the Actors Studio. One-time associate of Andy Warhol who gained a degree of notoriety in the 1960s for her nude stage appearances (she was the first actress to appear nude in a legitimate stage play, in the 1968 Off-Broadway premiere of Sweet Eros by Terrence McNally) and other experimental theatrics. Kirkland, a noted acting instructor, earned international recognition for her title role in ANNA (1987). Since entering American film in an uncredited bit part in CRACK IN THE MIRROR (1960), Kirkland has almost 150 film and television appearances to her credit. Other notable credits include THE WAY WE WERE, CINDERELLA LIBERTY and THE STING (all 1973), BIG BAD MAMA (1974), CRAZY MAMA and BREAKHEART PASS (both 1975), PRIVATE BENJAMIN (1980), LOVE LETTERS (1984), TALKING WALLS and ANNA (both 1987), "Steel Magnolias" (1990, TV), JFK (1991), THE PLAYER (1992), PAPER HEARTS and "The Woman Who Loved Elvis" (TV) (both 1993), GUNS AND LIPSTICK (1995), AMNESIA (1996), THE ISLAND (1998), STARRY NIGHT and EDTV (both 1999), A MONTH OF SUNDAYS (2001), MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS (2002), BRUCE ALMIGHTY (2003), AN EYE FOR AN EYE (2004), ADAM & STEVE (2005), FACTORY GIRL (2006), BLIND SPOT, HEAD CASE and RESURRECTION MARY (all 2007), RICHARD III and BIG STAN (both 2007), and UNDER THE KNIVE and THE LAST GUY ON EARTH (both scheduled for 2008). Kirkland is the goddaughter of Shelley Winters and is a lifetime member of The Actor's Studio. An ordained minister in the Church of The Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, she teaches classes that combine drama, yoga and meditation.    Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1987: ANNA 1 nomination