Graduated from Northwestern University's prestigious acting program. Her classmates include Lily Rabe and Zach Gilford, with whom she starred in "subUrbia".
Won her first speaking role on "One Life to Live" when she got a job as a reader for the show's casting director, Julie Madison. After hearing Cate read, Julie asked her to audition for the show, and cast her the next day.
Was picked by Tony-winning director Frank Galati to star as Jocasta in the workshop production of his play, "Oedipus Complex".