The Hawaii born red head, lived most of her life in Australia. Her acting career started modestly with small roles on Australian television. Her big breakthrough role came in the thriller Dead Calm with Sam Neil and Billy Zane. She was later cast in the Tom Cruise star vehicle Days of Thunder, which quickly made her one of the most sought after actresses in Hollywood. She followed up that success with high profile roles in the films Billy Bathgate starring Dustin Hoffman, Far and Away directed by Ron Howard, Malice starring Alec Baldwin and her Golden Globe winning work in the critically acclaimed film To Die For starring Matt Dillon and Joaquin Phoenix.

She has since went on to star in several box office blockbusters such as Batman Forever with Val Kilmer, The Peacemaker with George Clooney, Practical Magic with Sandra Bullock and Eyes Wide Shut directed by legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick.

In 2001, she was nominated for an Oscar for her work in the hit film Moulin Rouge and then finally won her first Oscar for her work as Virginia Woolf in the critically acclaimed The Hours.

In 2008, she can be seen in the epic Australia directed by Baz Luhrman and starring Hugh Jackman.