Christina Pickles, born on February 17, 1935, in Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, is a British-born American actress known for her versatile performances across stage, television, and film. She began her acting journey at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, where she studied alongside notable actors like Albert Finney and Peter O'Toole.

After moving to New York City in the late 1950s, she made her Broadway debut in 1964 with "A Severed Head" and went on to perform in numerous productions, including "Hamlet" and "Sherlock Holmes."

Her television career took off in the 1970s with roles in soap operas like "Guiding Light" and "Another World." However, she is best known for her role as Nurse Helen Rosenthal in the NBC medical drama "St. Elsewhere" (1982-1988), for which she received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

She also gained popularity for her recurring role as Judy Geller, Monica and Ross Geller's mother, on the sitcom "Friends" (1994-2003), earning another Emmy nomination.

Christina Pickles has appeared in several films, including "Masters of the Universe" (1987), "Legends of the Fall" (1994), "Romeo + Juliet" (1996), and "The Wedding Singer" (1998). Her performance in the Vimeo series "Break a Hip" earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series in 2018.

Christina Pickles has been married twice, first to Victor Lobl from 1962 until their divorce in 1985, and then to Ian Masters in 2005. She has two children, Oliver and Rebecca, from her first marriage.