Worked with personal trainer Gina Lombardi to lose 20 pounds for her role in "Fired Up" (1997).

Moved to Los Angeles with her mother and sister at the age of 13, and left school at 14.

Once worked as a telemarketer.

In a 2006 TV Guide /Bravo poll, her "The King of Queens" (1998) character "Carrie Heffernan" was voted the "hottest housewife" on TV with 31% of the vote narrowly besting characters from "Medium" (2005), "My Name Is Earl" (2005) and "The O.C." (2003).

Loves to sing Karaoke.

16 June 2004 - gave birth to 6 lb 7.4 oz daughter, Sofia Bella, a day after her 34th birthday.

Dating singer Angelo Pagan. [2001]

Ranked #19 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World" (2002).

Wore a two-piece Les Habitudes ensemble that included a duchesse satin bustier with silver beads and ivory pearls, and an organza skirt consisting of five layers in her July 2003 wedding to Angelo Pagan.

May 2002: Has joined the nationally syndicated Don and Mike radio show.

Her wedding to longtime boyfriend Angelo Pagan was featured in the February 2004 issue of InStyle Magazine.

Her father is Sicilian and her mother is Austrian.

Announced engagement to longtime boyfriend Angelo Pagan. [January 2003]

Was among the guests at Tom Cruise's and Katie Holmes' wedding ceremony in Italy.

Auditioned for the role of Monica on "Friends" (1994). (Although she didn't get the role, she later guest-starred in one episode: "The One with the Birth" (episode # 1.22))

Described by Kevin James as having "the mouth of a construction worker in the body of a model."