Chlumsky was born in Chicago, the daughter of Nancy (née Zunčić), a singer, actress, and former flight attendant, and Frank Chlumsky Jr., a chef and saxophonist. She began acting as a child, and first became known for playing Vada Sultenfuss in…

Macauley played her best friend, Thomas, who tragically died from an allergic reaction to bee stings in the film. She began auditioning again and has had a string of roles ever since. The 44-year-old — who played Vada Sultenfuss in…