Diane Venora is an American actress known for her work in stage, television, and film. Born on August 10, 1952, in East Hartford, Connecticut, she grew up as one of six children in a family that owned a dry cleaning business.

She attended East Hartford High School, where she was active in musicals and plays, and later studied at the Boston Conservatory of Music before earning a scholarship to the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, graduating in 1977. At Juilliard, she was part of the drama department's Group 6, which included notable actors like Kelsey Grammer and Robin Williams.

Diane Venora made her film debut in 1981 in the movie "Wolfen" alongside Albert Finney. She gained critical acclaim for her role as Chan Parker in the biographical film "Bird" (1988), winning the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her other notable film roles include "The Cotton Club" (1984), "Ironweed" (1987), "Heat" (1995), "Romeo + Juliet" (1996), "The Jackal" (1997), "The Insider" (1999), and "Hamlet" (2000).

On stage, Diane Venora has a strong association with Shakespearean plays. In 1983, she starred in Joseph Papp's production of "Hamlet" at the New York Shakespeare Festival, becoming the first woman to play the lead role in the festival's history. She has also played Ophelia and Gertrude in various productions of "Hamlet."

She had a starring role in the TV series "Thunder Alley" (1994) and a recurring role as plastic surgeon Geri Infante in "Chicago Hope." She has also appeared in series such as "Criminal Minds," "Private Practice," and "Grey's Anatomy."

Diane Venora was married to cinematographer Andrzej Bartkowiak from 1980 to 1989, and they have a daughter named Madzia. After her divorce, she took a break from acting to spend more time with her daughter, who was partially deaf and suffered from a degenerative nerve condition.

During this hiatus, she lived in New York City, teaching disadvantaged children and occasionally acting in plays. She returned to acting when her daughter's condition improved, and they moved to Los Angeles in 1994.