Amanda Peet was born Amanda Peete in New York City, New York, on January 11, 1972. Her father, Charles Peet Jr., was a corporate lawyer, and her mother, Penny (née Levy), is a social worker. She is of mostly Ashkenazi Jewish descent, with some English and German ancestry on her father’s side. Peet graduated from Friends Seminary and earned a degree in American history from Columbia University in 1994. During college, she studied acting with Uta Hagen.
Peet began her acting career with small roles in television and film. Her early television appearances include guest spots on “Law & Order” and “Central Park West.” She made her film debut in the 1995 independent film “Animal Room.”
Peet gained wider recognition in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Her role in the WB series “Jack & Jill” (1999-2001) helped raise her profile. She then appeared in a string of films that solidified her career, often portraying witty and independent characters.