- La Jolla, California
- Began college in Athens, Greece
- University of Maryland, (Baltimore); transferred
- University of Texas, (Austin); B.A., Drama
- Tisch School of the Arts, New York University; M.F.A., Theater
- On winning the Oscar® despite low pre-Award expectations: "Vegas had me at 12-to-1 odds. I sure do wish I had bet on myself and made a little money." -- 2001
- Husband: Thaddaeus D. Scheel, prop man; met during the filming of THE SPITFIRE GRILL; married in 1996
- Father: Thaddeus Harden, US Navy Captain
- Mother: homemaker
- Brother: Thaddeus Harden
- Sisters: Has three
- Daughter: Eulala Grace Scheel; b. 1998
- Twins: Hudson Harden Scheel and Julitta Dee Harden Scheel; b. 2004
- Harden was trained in various circus skills including the trapeze, tightrope, and juggling
- Nominated for a Tony® Award for her work on Broadway in Angels in America (1993-94)
- Her father, her brother and her husband are all named Thaddeus.
Credits:
- 2008: The Lonely Maiden, Home, Thomas Kinkade's Home for Christmas
2007: The Mist, Rails & Ties, The Invisible
2006: The Dead Girl, Canvas, The Hoax
2005: American Gun, Bad News Bears
2004: P.S., Welcome to Mooseport
2003: Just Like Mona, Mona Lisa Smile, Mystic River, Casa de Los Babys
2001: Gaudi Afternoon
2000: Space Cowboy, Pollock
1999: Curtain Call
1998: Desperate Measures, Meet Joe Black
1997: Flubber
- 1996: The Spitfire Grill, The First Wives Club, Spy Hard, The Daytrippers, Far Harbor
1995: Convict Cowboy
1994: Safe Passage
1993: Geoffrey Beene 30
1992: Sinatra, Used People
1991: Fever, Late for Dinner, In Broad Daylight
1990: Miller's Crossing
1986: The Imagemaker
1979: Not Only Strangers
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 2000: POLLOCK
Nominated for Actress in a Supporting Role 2003: MYSTIC RIVER- 2 nominations, 1 Award