Amanda Peet

Born: January 11 1972
Where: New York, USA

Peet made the leap from supporting actress to leading lady as an aspiring hit woman in The Whole Nine Yards opposite Bruce Willis.

Until then she had tracked a steady career in underperforming independent movies after studying history at the University of Columbia.

The daughter of a Manhattan lawyer, early roles include her debut in Animal Room, She's The One, Simply Irresistible, Sax & Violins and Jump.

Following The Whole Nine Yards, she landed starring roles in the romantic comedy Saving Silverman and the routine whodunnit High Crimes.

She starred opposite Samuel L Jackson in the well-received Changing Lanes and as a hooker in the accomplished thriller Identity.

Peet also played Jeff Goldblum's mistress in the black comedy Igby Goes Down.

Next up was the comedy sequel The Whole Ten Yards, as well as the Woody Allen comedy/ drama Melinda & Melinda.

Recent work includes the Nigel "Calendar Girls" Cole comedy A Lot Like Love opposite Ashton Kutcher.