Amanda Peet

Biography

Amanda Peet was born and raised in New York City. She is the daughter of Penny (Levy), a social worker, and Charles Peet, a lawyer, and has an older sister.

 Her father was of mostly English and German ancestry, and her mother was from a Jewish family (from Germany, Russia, and Hungary). Peet's great-grandfathers were politician Samuel Levy and showbiz impresario S.L. Rothafel.

Peet made an unconventional stage debut at the age of three when she jumped onto the stage during a play. Yet, despite this early start, she later studied acting more as a hobby than anything else. 

She studied history at Columbia University, where a drama professor convinced her to audition for acting teacher Uta Hagen, with whom she later went on to study for a four-year period.

 During this time, she participated in the off-Broadway revival of Clifford Odets's "Awake and Sing." She supported herself during the audition phase of her career by working as a waitress and with the residual checks she received from a Skittles candy commercial. 

Perseverance and hard work paid off, and, in 1995, she was cast in a guest-starring role on the hit series Law & Order (1990).

Her feature film debut came in 1995 with the movie Animal Room (1995). For a while afterward, Amanda continued to find steady work but also found herself appearing in a depressingly large number of indie films that were never picked up for distribution. 

She did, however, meet her boyfriend Brian Van Holt on the set of the indie movie Whipped (2000). Her turn as the ditzy hit-woman with the heart of gold in the hit comedy The Whole Nine Yards (2000), opposite Bruce Willis, took her from supporting role status to leading lady. 

That same year she was voted one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World by "People" Magazine.

Graduated from Columbia University in 1994.

Educated at an all-girls prep school in London.

Amanda and David were married at her alma mater, Friends Seminary high school, in New York City.

Gave birth to her 1st child at age 35, a daughter Frances Pen Benioff on February 20, 2007. The child's father is her husband, David Benioff.

Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 38, a daughter Molly June Benioff on April 20, 2010. The child's father is her husband, David Benioff.

Did not learn to drive until she moved to Los Angeles, California, in 2000.

Does not participate in social media.

Gave birth to her 3rd child at age 42, a son Henry Benioff on December 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. The child's father is her husband, David Benioff.

Her father, Charles, has been a prominent corporate attorney in New York City for decades.

Has one older sister who is a doctor.

(September 30, 2006) Married her boyfriend of 4 years David Benioff following a 14-month-long engagement.

Was maid of honor at actress Lauren Holly's wedding to Francis Greco.

Is best friends with Sarah Paulson.

Voted one of the 50 most beautiful people in the World in 2000 by People Magazine.

Was 8 months pregnant with her son Henry when she took maternity leave from filming Togetherness (2015).

Amanda's father's ancestry is English, Scottish, and German. Amanda's mother's family is Ashkenazi Jewish (they immigrated from Germany, Russia, and Hungary). Amanda's maternal great-grandfathers were Samuel Levy, a New York lawyer, and public official, and S.L. Rothafel, a theatrical impresario.

Mother: the former Penny Levy, who was born in England.

Worked at the City Crab restaurant in New York before hitting it big. (Source: Interview, Larry King Live (1985), 10 February 2000).

Returned to work five months after giving birth to her daughter Molly in order to begin filming To the Wonder (2012).

Attended Friends Seminary (k-12) with actor Liev Schreiber: when he was a senior she was in the 7th grade.

Replaced Amelia Heinle (the original Jack) in the Jack & Jill (1999) pilot episode.

She studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.

Starring on Broadway in Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park".

Her childhood crush was Christopher Atkins (The Blue Lagoon (1980)).

Engaged to David Benioff [July 22, 2005].

Named #87 in FHM magazine's 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006 supplement. (2006).

Her character on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006), Jordan McDeere, is based on former NBC president Jamie Tarses.

Returned to work seven months after giving birth to her daughter Frances in order to begin filming $5 a Day (2008).

Returned to work 4 months after giving birth to her son Henry to resume filming Togetherness (2015).

Ranked #44 in Stuff magazine's 102 Sexiest Women in the World (2002).

Friends with Ashton Kutcher.

A childhood friend of Jill Leiderman.

Gave birth to her children Frances, Molly, and Henry with the use of the epidural.

Born on the same date as Marc Blucas.