Jeannetta Arnette, born on July 29, 1954, in Washington, D.C., is an accomplished American actress known for her versatile performances across film and television. She spent her formative years in North Carolina, where she attended the North Carolina School of the Arts for her high school education.

Demonstrating an early passion for acting, she furthered her studies in England before enrolling at George Washington University. While at university, she became actively involved in local theater productions. Her deep commitment to pursuing a career in acting eventually led her to leave college and relocate to Los Angeles, where she began her professional journey in the entertainment industry.

Her breakthrough came with her memorable role as Miss Bernadette Meara on the popular sitcom "Head of the Class," which she portrayed from 1986 to 1991. This role established her as a familiar face on American television and opened doors to a variety of film and television projects.

She continued to build an impressive filmography, appearing in notable films such as "Ladybugs" (1992), the critically acclaimed "Boys Don't Cry" (1999), "Pay It Forward" (2000), "The Shipping News" (2001), "Snow Angels" (2007), and "Pineapple Express" (2008).

She frequently took on diverse guest-starring roles in well-known television series, including "Hill Street Blues," "Three's Company," "St. Elsewhere," "ER," "L.A. Law," "Touched by an Angel," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Lost," and "Criminal Minds," where her nuanced performance as Sarah Jean Dawes won particular praise. Recent years have seen her in recurring roles in "So NoTORIous," "Extant," and appearances in acclaimed shows such as "Justified" and "Impeachment: American Crime Story".

Throughout her lengthy career, she has collaborated with numerous respected actors and directors, earning a reputation for her strong character portrayals and scene-stealing supporting roles. Though she has not won major national or international awards, she received recognition within the festival circuit, winning Best Supporting Actress at Method Fest in 2003 for her role in "Dunsmore" and earning a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Madrid International Film Festival in 2014 for "The Amateur".