Early life
Sheedy was born in New York City to John Sheedy, a Manhattan-based advertising executive, and Charlotte Baum, a notable press agent who was involved in women's and civil rights movements. Sheedy's father was Catholic and her mother was Jewish; she was raised mostly Catholic, although she has since also identifed as both Buddhist and Jewish. Her parents divorced in 1971 and Sheedy's mother came out as a lesbian in 1980. She has two siblings, Patrick and Meghan.

Sheedy started dancing with the American Ballet Theatre at the age of six, and at twelve years old wrote a children's book, She Was Nice to Mice; the book was published by McGraw-Hill and became a best-seller.

[edit]
Career
Sheedy started acting in local stage productions while in her teenage years. After appearing in several made-for-television films in 1981, as well as three episodes of the television series Hill Street Blues, she made her feature film debut in Bad Boys (1983), starring Sean Penn. The 1980s were her most active period, with roles in popular teen films like WarGames, The Breakfast Club and Short Circuit.

Throughout most of the 1990s, Sheedy appeared in many television films. 1998's High Art, a well-reviewed independent film about a romance between two women, was an important film in her career. She identified with the character of photographer "Lucy Berliner" so much that she took a plane at her own expense to participate in an audition and has said that this character is the closest one she has played to herself.

In 1999, Sheedy took over the lead role in the Off-Broadway production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. She was the first female to play the part of the German transsexual, "Hedwig". Her run was terminated early amid bad reviews.

[edit]
Private life
In the 1990s, Sheedy was treated for sleeping pill addiction, an experience from which she drew on for her role as a drug-addicted photographer in "High Art". She has also battled with Bulimia nervosa, which started after a visit to the Ford modeling agency at the dawn of her acting career, after owner Eileen Ford told her to lose 15 pounds if she wanted to be represented by the agency.

Sheedy is married to actor David Lansbury, nephew of actress Angela Lansbury and son of Edgar Lansbury, the producer of the original production of Godspell; the couple have a daughter, Rebecca, born in 1994.

Sheedy had previously dated actor Eric Stoltz and musician Richie Sambora.

  The Veteran (2006) (post-production)

Shooting Livien (2005) .... Brea
Noise (2004/I) .... Charlotte Bancroft
Shelter Island (2003) .... Louise 'Lou' Delamere
A Good Night to Die (2003) .... Marie
"The Dead Zone"
... aka Stephen King's Dead Zone (USA)
- Playing God (2003) TV Episode .... Kate Moore
Life On the Line (2003) (TV)
The Interrogation of Michael Crowe (2002) (TV) .... Cheryl Crowe
... aka Interrogatoire de Michael Crowe, L' (Canada: French title)
Happy Here and Now (2002) .... Lois
"Once and Again"
- Aaron's List of Dreams (2002) TV Episode .... Miriam Rose Miller
Just a Dream (2002) .... Maureen Sturbuck
"Strange Frequency"
- Daydream Believer (2001) TV Episode .... Lee Bonner
The Warden (2001) (TV) .... Helen Hewitt
"Oz"
- Medium Rare (2001) TV Episode .... Lisa Logan

I'll Take You There (1999) .... Bernice
Our Guys: Outrage at Glen Ridge (1999) (TV) .... Kelly Brooks
... aka Outrage in Glen Ridge (USA)
The Autumn Heart (1999) .... Deb
Sugar Town (1999) .... Liz
Advice from a Caterpillar (1999) .... Jan
The Fury Within (1998) (TV) .... Joanna Hanlon
High Art (1998) .... Lucy Berliner
Myth America (1998)
Buried Alive II (1997) (TV) .... Laura Riskin
Country Justice (1997) (TV) .... Angie Baker
... aka Family Rescue
Macon County Jail (1997) .... Susan Reed
... aka Jailbreak (UK)
The Definite Maybe (1997) .... Joanne
Groupies (1997)
Hijacked: Flight 285 (1996) (TV) .... Deni Patton
"The Outer Limits"
... aka The New Outer Limits (USA: promotional title)
- I Hear You Calling (1996) TV Episode .... Reporter Carter Jones
Amnesia (1996) .... Martha Keller
One Night Stand (1995) .... Mickey Sanderson
... aka Before the Night
Tin Soldier (1995) (TV) .... Billy's Mom
The Haunting of Seacliff Inn (1994) (TV) .... Susan Enright
Parallel Lives (1994) (TV) .... Louise
Red Shoe Diaries 4: Auto Erotica (1994) (V) .... Karen (segment "The Fling")
... aka Zalman King's Red Shoe Diaries: Auto Erotica (USA: video box title)
Ultimate Betrayal (1994) (TV) .... Mary Rodgers
Man's Best Friend (1993) .... Lori Tanner
Chantilly Lace (1993) (TV) .... Elizabeth
"The Hidden Room"
- Hungry Girls (1993) TV Episode .... Julia
The Pickle (1993) .... Molly-Girl/Herself
Lethal Exposure (1993) (TV) .... Chris Cassidy
... aka Déclic fatal (France)
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) .... NY Ticket Agent
... aka Home Alone II (USA: short title)
"Red Shoe Diaries"
- Accidents Happen (1992) TV Episode .... Karen
Tattle Tale (1992) (TV) .... Laura Pavot
Only the Lonely (1991) .... Theresa Luna
The Lost Capone (1990) (TV) .... Kathleen Hart
Fear (1990) (TV) .... Cayce Bridges
Betsy's Wedding (1990) .... Connie Hopper

Heart of Dixie (1989) .... Maggie DeLoach
Short Circuit 2 (1988) (voice) (uncredited) .... Stephanie Speck
Maid to Order (1987) .... Jessie Montgomery
We Are the Children (1987) (TV)
Short Circuit (1986) .... Stephanie Speck
Blue City (1986) .... Annie Rayford
Twice in a Lifetime (1985) .... Helen
St. Elmo's Fire (1985) .... Leslie Hunter
The Breakfast Club (1985) .... Allison Reynolds
Oxford Blues (1984) .... Rona
WarGames (1983) .... Jennifer Katherine Mack
Bad Boys (1983) .... J.C. Walenski
Deadly Lessons (1983) (TV) .... Marita Armstrong
"Hill Street Blues"
- Eugene's Comedy Empire Strikes Back (1983) TV Episode .... Kristen
- Life in the Minors (1983) TV Episode .... Kristen
- The Belles of St. Marys (1983) TV Episode .... Kristen
"St. Elsewhere"
- Samuels and the Kid (1982) TV Episode .... Diane
"Chicago Story"
- Bright Lights, Big City (1982) TV Episode
Splendor in the Grass (1981) (TV) .... Hazel
The Day the Loving Stopped (1981) (TV) .... Debbie Danner
Homeroom (1981) (TV) .... Karen Chase
The Violation of Sarah McDavid (1981) (TV) .... Tracy Barnes
The Best Little Girl in the World (1981) (TV) .... First Girl
I Think I'm Having a Baby (1981) (TV) .... Cathy