Topic: Amanda Peet

Amanda Peet (born January 11, 1972) is an American actress.

After studying with Uta Hagen, Peet began her career in television commercials, and progressed to small roles in television and independent films. Featured roles in films such as The Whole Nine Yards (2000) brought her recognition and she was named one of People's "50 Most Beautiful People in the World". Her subsequent film roles have been more prominent, and include Something's Gotta Give (2003), Syriana (2005), and 2012 (2009).

Peet was born in New York City, the daughter of Penny (née Levy), a social worker, and Charles Peet, a corporate lawyer. The two are now divorced. Her father is a Quaker and her mother is Jewish. Peet 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 Hagen's class. During her four-year period of study with Hagen, Peet appeared in the off-Broadway revival of Clifford Odets's Awake and Sing.