She got the role of Marilyn on
Northern Exposure (1990) by accident. She accompanied her mother,
Armenia Miles, to an audition for the part of "Marilyn." The show's casting agents saw Elaine in the waiting room and asked her to audition. From that reading, they decided that they wanted someone younger for the part and gave her the part and cast her mother in the role of "Mrs. Anku." Subsequently,
Armenia Miles was recast as "Mrs. Whirlwind" (Marilyn's mother).
