Beck was born in
Baltimore, Maryland. She graduated from
Baltimore School for the Arts. She portrayed
Loving Trisha Alden from December 1984 to March 26, 1993, returning briefly in 1995 as the series neared cancellation. On May 8, 2008, she took over the role of
Lily Walsh on the
CBS soap
As the World Turns and remained until the series' cancellation on September 17, 2010. In 1996, Beck was cast in the second season of the
CBS primetime soap
Central Park West as Jordan Tate. In 2000, she was a series regular on the comedy TV series
Tucker. Beck also guest starred as
Mr. Big's ex-wife Barbara in a first season episode of
Sex and the City in July 1998. Beck appeared on
Law & Order and
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2000, on
Law & Order: Criminal Intent in 2002, and returned in 2011 to
Special Victims Unit and to
Criminal Intent. ==Personal life==