Ferrell was born in Charleston, West Virginia, the daughter of Mescal Loraine (née George) and Luther Martin Ferrell, and grew up in Circleville, Ohio. She attended West Virginia University, and graduated from Marshall University with a degree in social studies in education. She is married to Arnie Anderson and has one daughter.

Ferrell began her career on the stage, appearing in the original Broadway cast of Lanford Wilson's Hot L Baltimore and winning both the Drama Desk and Obie Awards for the off-Broadway The Sea Horse. A successful character actress, her career has spanned three decades and includes supporting roles in such films as Network, Mystic Pizza, Edward Scissorhands, Erin Brockovich, Crime and Punishment in Read more...