Diane Venora is an American actress, born on August 10, 1952. Trained at the prestigious Juilliard School, she initially gained recognition on stage for her acclaimed portrayals of Shakespearean characters, including the male lead role in *Hamlet*. Her most notable film role is as Chan Parker in Clint Eastwood's *Bird* (1988), for which she received a Golden Globe nomination and the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her career includes significant collaborations with director Michael Mann in *Heat* (1995), as Justine Hanna, and *The Insider* (1999), for which she won a Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award. Her other significant performances include Baz Luhrmann's *Romeo + Juliet* (1996) and *The 13th Warrior* (1999). On television, she is known for her role as Dr. Geri Infante in the series *Chicago Hope*.