Amanda Peet

 Amanda Peet was born and raised in New York City. She is the mother of Penny (Levy) and is a social worker, and Charles Peet, who is an attorney. Her father was predominantly English and German, while her mother was Jewish (from Germany, Russia and Hungary). The great-grandfathers of Peet were politician Samuel Levy and showbiz impresario S.L. Rothafel. Peet's edgy stage debut took place when she stepped onto the stage in a play at age three. She continued to pursue acting as a hobby, despite her early start. Columbia University was her home. A drama instructor encouraged her to audition for Uta Hagen, acting instructor. She continued to learn from Uta for four years. She was also a part of the off Broadway revival of Clifford Odes's "Awake and Sing" During the audition phase of her career, she was employed as a waitress, earning residual cash from a Skittles commercial. Perseverance and hard work resulted in a successful outcome, and in the year 1995, she was cast in a guest-starring part in the popular show Law & Order (1990).