Golding was born in India in 1971.[1][2][3] Her parents were international aid workers[3] and she was raised in several countries. Besides the United States, Golding also lived in India, Haiti, France and Italy.[4] During her years in Italy, she competed on ice as a figure skater, but when an injury ended her skating career she started acting in theater.[4] She returned to the US to attend Cornell University and earned degrees in Theatre Arts and International Relations.[2]