Born in Rochelle, IL; educated at Eastern Illinois University (Charleston) and Northern Illinois University. Founding member of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater Company who won a Tony® for her Broadway debut in Lanford Wilson's Burn This (1988) and went on to star as the feminist exemplar of the 1980s in Wendy Wasserstein's The Heidi Chronicles (1989). Although her film work began as sporadic and her roles mostly mousey secondary characters, Allen was memorable as Kathleen Turner's high school friend in PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED (1986), as Reba McClane - "The Tooth Fairy's" potential victim - in Michael Mann's MANHUNTER (also 1986), and as Jeff Bridges' steadfast wife in TUCKER: THE MAN AND HIS DREAM (1988). She was also outstanding in the television presentation of Arthur Miller's All My Sons (1987). Allen's career picked up in the mid-90s when she played Pat to Anthony Hopkins' NIXON (1995). She followed this in 1996 with THE CRUCIBLE. Other 1990s films included ETHAN FROME and SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER (both 1993), THE ICE STORM and FACE/OFF (both 1997), PLEASANTVILLE (1998) and ALL THE RAGE (1999). Perhaps her finest work to date can be found as the title character in the insightful look inside Washington's political appointment process in THE CONTENDER (2000). Also in 2000 she starred in WHEN THE SKY FALLS. Other recent credits include OFF THE MAP (2003), THE NOTEBOOK, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY and YES (all 2004), THE UPSIDE OF ANGER (2005), BONNEVILLE (2006), THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM (2007), and GOOD SHARMA, DEATH RACE and HACHIKO: A DOG'S STORY (all scheduled for release in 2009). Allen was married to actor Peter Friedman from 1990 to 2002; they have one child.  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 1995: NIXON  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 1996: THE CRUCIBLE  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 2000: THE CONTENDER 3 nominations