Calista Kay Flockhart (born November 11, 1964 in Freeport, Illinois) is an American actress. She was raised in upstate New York and later moved to New Jersey where she attended Shawnee High School in the town of Medford. After high school she went to Rutgers University.

After working on Broadway and landing roles in the films Quiz Show and The Birdcage, she became known for playing the title role on the television series Ally McBeal.