Laura San Giacomo made her screen debut in 1987. She started with guest roles on episodes of several television shows. She first appeared as Sharon on an episode of the crime drama series, Spenser: For Hire. Following this, she played the guest role of Theresa Farantino on a 1988 episode of Crime Story. Laura made her film debut in the 1988 film, Miles from Home, where she played the uncredited role of Sandy.
Other minor roles followed before she landed a major role in the 1989 film, Sex, Lies and Videotape, starring as Cynthia Patrice Bishop. Her role in the Palme d’Or winning independent film shot her to international acclaim, earning her a New Generation Award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association as well as a Golden Globe nomination.
The exposure soon got her another major role in Garry Marshall’s hit romantic comedy film, Pretty Woman (1990). She starred as the lead character’s friend, Kit De Luca. Owing to the outstanding success of the film, Laura’s prominence in the movie industry increased. After Pretty Woman, Giacomo played both minor and major roles in numerous other films and TV series including Vital Signs, For Their Own Good, Nina Takes Over, Fallen Angels, and so on.
In 1997, she landed another major and career-transforming role in Just Shoot Me!, a situation comedy series that aired on NBC until 2003. Laura portrayed journalist Maya Gallo in all of the 148 episodes of the series. Her exceptional performance in the sitcom earned her another Golden Globe nomination. While she filmed Just Shoot Me!, Laura also appeared in other films/TV series including Suicide Kings, Eat Your Heart Out, and The Handler.
In 2006, San Giacomo once again landed a starring role on the TNT drama series, Saving Grace. She played the character of Rhetta Rodriguez, best friend to the title character Grace, which was played by her fellow Carnegie Mellon alumna, Holly Hunter. Other films/television series Laura San Giacomo has starred in are The Defenders (2010), Hot In Cleveland (2011), The Mentalist (2013), and The Meddler (2015).
In 2016, she started appearing as Dr. Grace Confalone on NCIS, a CBS action police procedural series. The next year (2017), she also started playing the role of Morgan Wilson in Animal Kingdom.
