Feb 3, 1965

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

After appearing in several plays (such as Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead and The Bald Soprano, she moved to Los Angeles, California and in 1987 got her first break in a role in Walt Disney's made-for-TV film Student Exchange. Tierney's first starring role was in a low-budget film called Dead Women in Lingerie, shot in 24 days. Although the cast included well-known actors such as Jerry Orbach, June Lockhart and Lyle Waggoner, the film, never received a theatrical release. Much later (in 2005... ... (read more...) ), the film was released on DVD by MTI Home Video.
Tierney continued winning small roles in film and television, though it was not until her leading role in NewsRadio from 1995-1999 and roles in major feature films such as Liar Liar, Primary Colors, and Forces of Nature that she received regular national exposure.
<br/><br/>
It was after NewsRadio ended that she got the role of Nurse Abigail "Abby" Lockhart on ER. She started off guest starring as an OB nurse, a role which expanded in 2000 to a full-time regular part as an ER nurse; within a year, her work on ER had earned her an Emmy Award nomination.

Tierney won the second season tournament of Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown against Lauren Graham, her former NewsRadio colleague. The show, first telecast in 2004, was hosted by Dave Foley, who was her co-lead and romantic interest in NewsRadio.