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Chagall (Yes, that Chagall. Her paternal grandmother was the famous artist's cousin) was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised on Long Island. She comes from a close-knit family -- her maternal grandmother lived with them and her paternal grandmother and aunt lived two blocks away. Her father, who passed away in 1995, was a prominent trial and corporate attorney and the entire family was involved in political and social activism.

Few would relate Chagall's character of Val to her starring role in Gaby - A True Story, the widely praised feature film which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Drama. Chagall was in her second recovery from a rare neuromuscular illness that left her completely paralyzed, when, after many years of therapy, walking with the use of crutches, she was spotted in a play and brought to the attention of the producers of the film. Chagall also starred opposite Jason Alexander in the feature film White Palace. Always focused on becoming an actress, she joined a theater group for young adults and eventually graduated into the adult company. At 13, she performed at Philharmonic Hall and Carnegie Hall with an Israeli folk dance troupe. At 16, she choreographed and performed with the troupe again at Carnegie Hall.

At 17, Chagall went to Goddard College and by the time she earned her BA in Theater at age 20 she had performed in such professional theater productions as Hedda Gabler and Romeo and Juliet. She went on to perform in numerous regional, off- and off-off Broadway productions. Chagall studied in New York at Circle in the Square, HB Studios and The Neighborhood Playhouse. She also studied with Stella Adler and became her protégé, attending intimate Sunday parties at Adler's apartment.

In her spare time, Chagall loves to read, travel and go to the theater. She and her husband, Greg Lenert, who is a stage manager for The Nanny, live in Los Angeles.