Wore a fat suit in her role as Nicki Fifer on "The Drew Carey Show" (1995).

Grew up in San Jose, California and Tucson, Arizona.

Often compared to Catherine Deneuve, an icon of French cinema. So much so that it was written into an episode of "Grey's Anatomy" (2005) where a patient's husband becomes fascinated with Walsh's character because of the resemblance.

Was a runway model in Japan during the early 1980s. The Japanese were fascinated by her size and height (5' 10").

Portrayed the girlfriend of her future "Grey's Anatomy" (2005) cast mate, Sandra Oh, in Under the Tuscan Sun (2003). Coincidentally, her character in the film was also a doctor.

The film, The Sweetest Thing (2002), was written by Kate's best friend, Nancy Pimental. The film's female characters were based on Nancy and Kate. Also, Kate can be seen on the DVD's special features.

Her mother is Italian and her father is Irish.

Wore glasses as a child.

Good friend of Jamie Denbo, Sara Morris, Cynthia True, Sally Ann Brooks and Corinne Kingsbury.

Attended Catalina High school in Tucson, Arizona.

Married to Alex Young, a production co-president at 20th Century Fox [September 1, 2007].

Ranked #52 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list.

First leading role was with co-star Wes Bentley in the New York Indy production of Three Below Zero (1998), which won the Max Ophüls award 1999 fort best picture in Germany.

Has two dogs and two cats. Her dogs are named Lou Diamond Phillips and Rosie Perez after the actor and actress of the same name.