Model, Paralympic track & field competitor, public speaker, and screen Actress. She became known for her TED conference lectures; her roles in such films as Cremaster 3 and World Trade Center; and her modeling runway shows and Sports competitions carried out on prosthetic legs.
When she was an infant, a condition called fibular hemimelia resulted in the amputation of her legs. She later attended Georgetown University, where she competed on the school's Division One track & field team.
During a 2010 appearance on The Colbert Report, she discussed her twelve sets of prosthetic limbs.
She was born in Pennsylvania to an Irish-American family. In 2013, she became romantically involved with British actor Rupert Friend.
In the late 1990s, she participated in a London runway fashion show for designer Alexander McQueen.
