Amanda Peet

Amanda Peet is an American actress and author who has appeared in film, stage, and television. After studying with Uta Hagen at Columbia University, Peet began her career in television commercials, and progressed to small roles on television, before making her film debut in 1995. Featured roles in the 2000 comedy film The Whole Nine Yards brought her wider recognition.

Peet was born in New York City, the daughter of Penny , a social worker, and Charles D. Peet, Jr., a corporate lawyer, who divorced. Her father is a Quaker and mother is Jewish. Peets maternal greatgrandfathers were Samuel Levy, a lawyer, businessman, and public official, who served as Manhattan Borough President, and Samuel Roxy Rothafel, a theatrical impresario and entrepreneur. She attended Friends Seminary, then studied history at, and graduated from, Columbia University where she auditioned for acting teacher Uta Hagen and decided to become an actress, after taking Hagens class. During her fouryear period of study with Hagen, Peet appeared in the offBroadway revival of Clifford Odetss Awake and Sing with Stephen Lang.

Source: Wikipedia