Multi-talented math major who evolved from production assistant to producer-director. Yale graduate Talalay was working in Baltimore as a computer analyst when she landed her first job as a production assistant to writer-director John Waters on "Polyester" (1981). She played a bit part in the underrated sci-fi effort "Android" (1982) before holding such jobs as script supervisor for "The House on Sorority Row" (1983), software supplier for the disaster adventure "City Limits" (1985), production manager on "A Nightmare on Elm Street, Part 2: Freddy's Revenge" (1985), assistant director on the horror-comedy "Return to Horror High" (1986), and line producer for "A Nightmare on Elm Street, Part 3: Dream Warriors" (1987).
Talalay made her producing debut on John Waters' "Hairspray" (1988) and performed the same chores on "Cry-Baby" and the teen comedy "Book of Love" (both 1990). She made her directorial debut on "Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare" (1991) for which she also provided the story.
Talalay received a first chance for mainstream success with "Tank Girl" (1995), based on the English comic book of the same name. Talalay was given $25 million to bring her post-apocalyptic world to the screen. The result was an uneven attempt to make a futuristic cult film, a la "A Clockwork Orange" or "A Boy and His Dog". While there were some interesting moments (a dance sequence inspired by Busby Berkeley) the film's muddy action scenes and uninspired script overshadowed the lighter aspects of the movie.