Taylor was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Joan, a homemaker, and Skip Taylor, an owner of a security company. She grew up in neighboring Wescosville, Pennsylvania. Taylor has a brother, Brian, and attended Allentown Central Catholic High School.

Taylor began her acting career in 1989 at the age of 18 on the Nickelodeon Network children's television series Hey Dude where she played the lifeguard Melody Hanson. She continued in that role through 1991 while making various guest appearances on other programs. In 1996, Taylor was awarded the lead role in the television series Party Girl, based on the 1995 film of the same name. The title character Read more...

In the 1990s, Taylor dated actors Neil Patrick Harris and Matthew Lillard. On May 13, 2000, she married actor, writer, and director Ben Stiller whom she met while filming Heat Vision and Jack. Taylor has since appeared opposite Stiller in three films: Zoolander (2001), Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004) and Tropic Thunder (2008). On April 10, 2002 Taylor and Stiller had their first child, a Read more...