Originally from San Francisco, Susan comes from a diverse background. Her father was from Nicaragua while her mother is of danish/Irish descent. She got into acting after being recommended to attended the American Conservatory Theatre's youth dept. She studied at ACT for four years beginning at the age of 11 and it was there that she began her long love affair with the theater. She later moved to New York City and studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. It was in school where she met her husband, actor, Michael Irby.