She worked quite steadily on the stage, performing roles in plays like Death Takes a Holiday, Sophistry, All for One and an off-Broadway production of Wrong Turn at Lungfish which was directed by Garry Marshall. After doing some small roles on soaps she landed a supporting role in the TV movie Darrow, which starred Kevin Spacey. After that she landed a starring role in The Secret Life of Mary-Margaret: Portrait of a Bulimic, from the HBO series Lifestories: Families in Crisis.

Though she continued to get great reviews for her stage work, she went through a bit of a dry spell with her TV work and money was getting tight. Things looked up though when she won a gig in the Broadway revival of The Glass Menagerie. She received critical raves and won both the Theater World Award and the Clarence Derwent Award. That was followed by her feature debut, a bit part in Robert Redford's Quiz Show, which in turn was followed by a major supporting role in the cable movie Drunks. Director Mike Nichols saw Flockhart's performance in The Loop, and she was cast her as the daughter of Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest in his comedy The Birdcage.

Flockhart then appeared on stage in the Three Sisters, a show that also featured Amy Irving, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Lili Taylor, and Eric Stolz. Flockhart again received raves and came to the attention of prolific TV producer David E. Kelley, who was developing a show for FOX called Ally McBeal. Though she was initially reluctant to do weekly television, Flockhart was offered the title role. She won a Golden Globe in 1998 for her role as the confused, mini-skirted lawyer.

There's been much attention on Calista's weight and rumours float around that she has an eating disorder. That may be fine fodder for the tabloids, but the rest of us will just continue watching her growth as an actress.