Mary Ann Hagan's early life was marked by her Irish Catholic upbringing in Chelsea, Massachusetts, where she was born into a family of five children. Growing up in Savannah, Georgia, she developed a passion for the performing arts, appearing in numerous high school and community theatre productions.
At the age of 16, Hagan made her film debut in 1976, watching the filming of Gator in her hometown and being approached by a location coordinator to appear in a movie alongside Burt Reynolds. This led to a bit part in the PBS television movie Bernice Bobs Her Hair opposite Shelley Duvall.
Years later, Hagan trained at the National Theatre in London in 1990 and began her professional film and television career in 1991. She earned her SAG card with a memorable seven-word line in the sci-fi movie Freejack, only to have her scene cut from the final version.
Hagan made her series television debut in a 1992 episode of the CBS drama series In the Heat of the Night, and was later asked to return in two other episodes as different characters. She went on to have supporting roles in several made-for-television movies, including the CBS miniseries A Season in Purgatory, based on Dominick Dunne's novel.
Hagan also starred in the short dark comedy Mona's Pets, which won the Audience Choice Award at the Sante Fe Independent Film Festival. She took on a range of memorable roles, including being handcuffed to Elizabeth Montgomery in the TV movie With Murder in Mind and giving birth to twins delivered by Cicely Tyson in the mini-series Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All.
Throughout her career, Hagan has demonstrated her versatility and talent, taking on a wide range of roles and characters that have showcased her abilities as a talented actress.
