She worked as a waiter and in other occupations to start her career until getting a supporting part in the Academy Award-nominated Reuben, Reuben (1983). This led to a prominent part opposite Harrison Ford in the acclaimed thriller single witness as well as a lot of television work (1985).
She gained attention in Hollywood thanks to this box office success, which was directed by Peter Weir, and producers took notice of her. Jerry Bruckheimer was one of them. He cast her as Charlie Blackwood with Tom Cruise in the hugely successful top gun (1986), which helped it get enormous name recognition.
