Although uncommonly attractive, with striking blue eyes and a spirited all-American allure, actress Amanda Peet had a likeable Everywoman appeal, an attribute well-served by the audience familiarity that resulted from her numerous film and television credits. A short stint on the ABC daytime drama "One Life to Live", a two-episode guest role on NBC's "Law & Order" in 1995 and an appearance the following year in "The Single Guy" could be counted among her small screen appearances, but prior to her regular starring turn in The WB's twentysomething romantic comedy series "Jack & Jill" (1999-2001), Peet's best-remembered TV role was likely that of Lanette, one of Jerry's especially demanding girlfriends-of-the-week on a 1997 episode of NBC's monumentally popular sitcom "Seinfeld". That same year, she gave a disarming performance as the hippie-like Julia, a young concerned teacher and temporary guardian of abused child "Ellen Foster" (Jena Malone) in the moving CBS TV-movie adaptation of Kaye Gibbons' novel. Before taking on the role of New York City's somewhat unpolished new arrival Jacqueline 'Jack' Barrett on "Jack & Jill", she disappeared from the small screen for some time while undertaking film projects. Peet's movie career commenced in 1994, when she filmed a featured role in the independent drama "Grind", starring Billy Crudup and Adrienne Shelly. The film wouldn't see release until 1997, so film audiences weren't introduced to the actress until her memorable supporting role as Jennifer Aniston's sister in 1996's "She's The One". The following year, Peet took on a featured role in the independent ensemble comedy "1999", set at a New Year's Eve party, and the went on to appear as Donnie Wahlberg's jilted ex-girlfriend in the gritty Boston-set drama "Southie" (1998). She impressed as co-star of the independent "Origin of the Species" and cut a surprisingly strong and sympathetic figure as an actress and aerobics instructor who is diagnosed with HIV in the formulaic drama "Touch Me" (both 1998). Peet would next take a small and uncharacteristically malicious role as the bewitched Sean Patrick Flanery's former girlfriend in the 1999 Sarah Michelle Gellar starrer "Simply Irresistible". Her busy filming schedule from 1998 on led to a spate of late 1999-early 2000 releases featuring the young up and comer. Among them was "Body Shots", a "Rashomon"-inspired ensemble piece chronicling different takes on a wild night by a group of eight young partyers. While the film was disappointingly executed, Peet's performance as the down-to-earth Jane (again opposite Flanery) made the character especially relatable, and gave audiences a peek at her notable acting capabilities. |
