'''Calista Kay Flockhart''' (born November 11, 1964 in Freeport, Illinois) is an American actress.
She is best known for her starring role as the temperamental lawyer in the 1997-2002 television show, ''
Ally McBeal''.
Biography
Calista Flockhart was born in Freeport, Illinois, to Kraft Foods executive Ronald Flockhart, his English-teaching wife, Kay Calista, and has one older brother, Gary Flockhart. Reversing her own first and second names, her mother named her '''Calista Kay'''. The name '''Calista''' means ''most beautiful'' in Greek.
Because her father's job required the family to move often, Calista was raised with brother Gary in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, upstate New York, and New Jersey. As a child, she wrote a play called ''Toyland'' in which she performed to a small audience at a dinner party. However, she never professed an ambition to become an actress, instead claiming she wanted to be a clown when she grew up.
Beginning in 1978 and graduating in 1982, Flockhart attended Shawnee High School in Medford Township, New Jersey. She served on the Student Council, participated in the drama program, and became a cheerleader. A football player named Brian Anderson was her high school sweetheart.
Following her graduation, Flockhart attended The Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. While there, she attended a specialized and competitive class, lasting from 6 o'clock in the morning to 6 o'clock in the evening. In her sophomore year at Rutgers, Flockhart met Jane Krakowski, the best friend of her room mate, and an aspiring actress like Flockhart. Later they would both work together on Ally McBeal. Flockhart's acting ability was recognized when William Esper (Mason Gross' theatre director and Flockhart's acting teacher) made an exception to policy by allowing Flockhart to perform on the main stage. Though usually reserved for juniors and seniors, Harold Scott insisted that Flockhart perform in his production of William Inge's ''Picnic''.
Flockhart graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre in 1988 as one of only a few students who successfully completed the course. Flockhart was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni on May 3, 2003.
After receiving her degree, Flockhart moved to New York City in 1989 where she remained until 1997, living with three other women in a two-bedroom apartment and working as a waitress and aerobics instructor whilst she simultaneously sought auditions.
In spring, 1989, Flockhart had a minor role in one episode of ''The Guiding Light'' as a babysitter. Following this, she found her professional debut on the New York stage, appearing in ''Beside Herself'' alongside actor Melissa Joan Hart
