As far as acting in films, there is not much out there that is very interesting to do. The ones that are interesting to me are independent films and they have trouble raising money. With people putting their money into blockbusters, there is not much left for the independents.

She also teaches yoga. "I grew up moving almost every year and so I was always the new kid in school and always in a way was deprived of ever really having any lasting friendships" Allen said in 1987. Early life
Allen was born in Carrollton in rural western Illinois the daughter of Patricia Allen (née Howell) a teacher and Carroll Thompson Allen an FBI agent.

Allen has also had roles in films including National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) The Wanderers (1979) Cruising (1980) Starman (1984) Scrooged (1988) The Sandlot (1993) and Poster Boy (2004).