After appearing in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) as Ro Laren, she was approached to play the same character in a starring role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993). When she turned down the part, because she didn't want to commit to a regular television role at that point in her career, a new Bajoran character, Kira Nerys, was created and Nana Visitor was cast in that part.
She is of Mexican descent.
In order to play the deaf character of Susan Metcalfe on the BBC series Messiah (2001), she learned British Sign Language within six days.