Amy's mother, a superior court judge, was one of the first women to graduate from Harvard. Her father is an environmental lawyer. Amy is also a graduate from Harvard, where she majored in comparative religion. She spent one semester studying sacred dances in Nepal. While in college, she formed the Cornerstone Theater Company, a touring production company that takes classics to small towns and encourages locals to particiapte in them. After touring for five years, she moved to New York where she became a teacher in Brooklyn. She landed her first tv role in 1992.



Amy has two older brothers. Matthew, a lawyer; and Andrew, an interactive software producer. Graduated from Glastonbury High School, Glastonbury, Connecticut, in 1982. Recently spoke at the March for Women's Lives rally in Washington, DC. Born to Russell L. Brenneman, an environmental lawyer, and his wife Frederica S. Brenneman, the first female Senior Judge at the Connecticut Supreme Court. Her parents were the first married couple at Harvard Law School, where they were both enrolled. After Tyne Daly had been her co-star on "Judging Amy" (1999), Tyne's brother Tim Daly currently appears with her on "Private Practice" (2007). One of the founding members of the Cornerstone Theater Company, Inc. in Los Angeles together with her husband Brad Silberling.