My son was born somewhat late in my life and I just found myself really feeling like I didn't want to miss out on being a parent and being with him, and not wanting a situation where I was constantly pulled back and forth between being present, and having all these other pressures and considerations.

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).