Attended the NYU School of the Arts.
Has a daughter, Molly Johanna Schrader (born 1984), and a son, Sam Schrader (born 1988), with her husband, Paul Schrader.
Has been nominated for Tony Awards three times: as Best Actress (Featured Role -Play), in 1976 for "Trelawny of the 'Wells'" and in 1982 for "Crimes of the Heart;" and as Best Actress (Play), in 1986 for "Benefactors."
Her childhood babysitter was actress Jean Seberg, also a Marshalltown native. Hurt played the role of Seberg, in voice-over, in Mark Rappaport's 1995 documentary From the Journals of Jean Seberg (1995).
Received her B.A. from the University of Iowa in 1968.
Scott Supinger, a relative of hers, appeared on an episode of "The Tracey Ullman Show" (1987).
Sister-in-law of Leonard Schrader and Chieko Schrader.
Won an Obie Award in 1980/81 for her role in Crimes of the Heart.