Kristen Johnston was raised in the Midwest, in Milwaukee, WI, with her younger sister and older brother, although she was born in Washington, DC. She spent a large part of her teens traveling as an exchange student to Sweden and South America. While earning her B.F.A. degree at New York University in drama, Johnston appeared in college stage productions before making her professional stage debut with the Atlantic Theatre Co, founded by playwright David Mamet.
During her long association with that theatre company in New York's Chelsea District, the company featured her in such productions as "Overruled," "As You Like It," "Girl's Talk," "Five Very Live," "Stage Door," "Author's Voice," "Portrait of a Woman," "Boy's Life" and "Rosemary for Remembrance." In addition she has performed with the Naked Angels Theatre Company in "The Stand In" and "Hot Keys," and with New York Stage and Film in "Kim's Sister" with David Strathairn and Jane Adams.
Johnston was nominated for a Drama Desk Award as Best Supporting Actress for her performance in "The Lights" at Lincoln Center Theatre. That show brought her to the attention of a Carsey-Werner executive casting "3rd Rock," and after numerous auditions, she landed the role of Sally. "Sally is really the 'right-hand man' to the alien mission leader played by John Lithgow," says Kristen Johnston, who portrays Sally Solomon, the alien posing as a sexy, Ohio, female human on "3rd Rock from the Sun."
"She's a dame, a serious, business-like, tough chick," Johnston observes, proving that appearances on earth are deceiving. Her television credits include guest-starring roles on the series "Chicago Hope," "Heart's Afire" and "The Five Mrs. Buchanans". Her latest role is narrating "Microscopic Milton" on The Disney Channel. Johnston made her feature film debut in "The Debt," winner of Best Short at the Cannes Film Festival in 1993. In 1995 she played Kate in "Backfire".