Bening's film credits include BUGSY, with Warren Beatty for Director Barry Levinson, REGARDING HENRY, with Harrison Ford for Director Michael Nichols, GUILTY BY SUSPICION, with Robert DeNiro, VALMONT, directed by Milos Forman, and POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE.
Born in Topeka, Kansas, and raised in San Diego, Bening was enrolled at a local college when she got a job as a dancer in THE GREEN SHOW, presented outside San Diego's famed Old Globe Theatre. This led to a walk-on in a Shakespeare production, this time inside the theatre, and two plays with the San Diego Repertory Theatre.
Following graduation from San Francisco University, Bening was accepted by the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, where she trained and then joined the acting company. She also appeared in both Summer Shakespeare festivals and regional productions.
Her next career move took her to New York. She received a Tony nomination and won the Clarence Derwent Award for most outstanding debut performance of the season for her performance in COASTAL DISTURBANCES, originally at the Second Stage, then on Broadway.
On television Bening guest-starred on such series as MIAMI VICE and WISEGUY. She made her feature film debut in THE GREAT OUTDOORS, opposite Dan Aykroyd and John Candy.