Primetime nominee Kate Burton portrays the pious, and shockingly murderous, Vice President of the United States, Sally Langston, on creator Shonda Rhimes wildly popular political drama Scandal.

She reunited with Rhimes, following her memorable, recurring turn on Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Meredith Grey’s (Ellen Pompeo) mother, Dr. Ellis Grey.

With more than 70 television and film credits to her name, one could easily say that acting is in her blood — but with a dad like Oscar nominee Richard Burton, it actually is.

Like her dear old dad, the Switzerland-born actress has been heralded for her ability to truly inhabit roles and draw audiences in. She has appeared in such features as Big Trouble in Little China and 127 Hours.

A graduate of Brown University and the Yale University School of Drama, Burton is also a Tony nominee with an extensive theatre background. Stage credits include Hedda Gabler, Doonsbury and The Elephant Man. In 2006, she played opposite her Scandal co-star Tony Goldwyn in the Off-Broadway play The Water’s Edge.