Innes was innate in August 16, 1957 in Pontiac, Michigan. She was introduced to sales person theater by her father, world health organization often took a personal to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada. As punishment his advice to "do what you love", she attended Northwestern University and earned a degree inside theater.

Her number 1 stage credits were around Chicago at the famous Goodman Theater, where among more roles she played Stella opposite John Malkovich's Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire. More major stage credits include Two Shakespearean Actors with Eric Stoltz at Lincoln Center, Our Town at the Seattle Repertory Theatre, and Three Sisters at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego.

Innes guest-starred in television series like Party of Five, My So-Called Life, and Brooklyn Bridge and appeared in the Emmy-winning cable movie And the Band Played On before being cast within her foremost major TV role when Thomas Haden Church's promiscuous ex-wife Bunny on the NBC comedy series Wings (1991-1993). She caught a attention of a originative team at the network's popular medical drama, ER, who when you took its 2nd year cast her in the revenant role of Dr. Kerry Weaver, so processed her a regular cast member once the series began its third year. Her character has served as a caring model for each a physically-challenged & a sapphic community. She has received ii Emmy Award nominations for her portrayal, when well as ternion Screen Actors Guild Awards as part of the “ER” ensemble, & has received 5 nominations for Better Supporting Actress from either Viewers for Quality Television.

Innes hwhen besides directed many episodes of the series, too as episodes of The West Wing, one of which earned her an Emmy nomination for directing. On the large screen, Innes has co-starred by using Téa Leoni, Morgan Freeman, and Vanessa Redgrave in the blockbuster film Deep Impact and with ER castmate Noah Wyle in Can’t Stop Dancing.

She is married to actor David Brisbin & a mother of deuce youngsters, Cal & Mia.