Jenette Elise Goldstein (born February 4, 1960) is an American actress. Known for her collaborations with director James Cameron,[2] she won a Saturn Award for her portrayal of Private Vasquez in his 1986 sci-fi horror film, Aliens. She reteamed with Cameron to play Janelle Voight in Terminator 2 (1991) and a small part in Titanic (1997). Her other notable film appearances include Diamondback in Near Dark (1987) and Meagan Shapiro in Lethal Weapon 2 (1989), alongside cameos in Star Trek Generations (1994) and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). On television, Goldstein has played guest roles on series such as ER, Six Feet Under, 24, and Star Trek: Short Treks.

Jenette Goldstein
Goldstein in 2023
Born (1960-02-04) February 4, 1960 (age 64)[1]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • businesswoman
Years active1986–present

Early life

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Goldstein was born in Los Angeles, California, and raised in Beverly Hills.[3] Her family is from Brazil and Morocco.[4] She is Jewish.[2] Goldstein trained to be a gymnast before she started her acting career.[5]

Career

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Goldstein's first film role was in James Cameron's Aliens (1986), where she played Private Vasquez. The performance won her the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress the following year.[6] She next appeared as Diamondback, a mysterious vampire, in Kathryn Bigelow's neo-Western horror film Near Dark (1987), receiving her second Saturn Award nomination for the role. She ended the decade with parts in The Presidio, Miracle Mile (both 1988), and Lethal Weapon 2 (1989).

Goldstein played Janelle Voight, the foster mother of John Connor, in James Cameron's big-budget sci-fi action film Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which broke box office records upon its release in 1991.[7] Next, she made cameos as a USS Enterprise science officer in Star Trek Generations (1994), an Irish immigrant mother in Titanic (1997)—her third collaboration with Cameron—and a hotel maid in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). Her other notable film roles during the 1990s were supporting parts in Fair Game (1995) and Living Out Loud (1998). Goldstein's television work includes guest appearances on MacGyver, L.A. Law, ER, Six Feet Under, Alias, and 24.

Other work

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Goldstein is the owner of the chain store company Jenette Bras,[8] a large-cup bra specialist known for its slogan, "The alphabet starts at 'D'".[6][9][10]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 Aliens Private Vasquez
1987 Near Dark Diamondback
1988 The Presidio Patti Jean Lynch
Miracle Mile Beverly Hills Chick #1
1989 Lethal Weapon 2 Meagan Shapiro
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day Janelle Voight
1993 Donato and Daughter Det. Judy McCartney Television film
1994 Star Trek Generations Science Officer
1995 Fair Game Rosa
1996 Borderline Un­known Short film
1997 Touch Me Gabrielle
Titanic Irish Mother
1998 Senseless Nurse Alvarez
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Alice the Maid
Living Out Loud Fanny
1999 Smut Mary Jane
2001 It Is What It Is Rivka Stern
2002 Clockstoppers Doctor
Home Room Main Nurse
2003 Duplex Moderator
2008 Autopsy Nurse Marian
2014 Under the Hollywood Sign Mary

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 Max Headroom Bella Episode: "Dream Thieves"
1991 MacGyver Rachel Bradley Episode: "The Prometheus Syndrome"
1992 Civil Wars Patricia Twain Episode: "Drone of Arc"
1994 L.A. Law Tanya Geiss Episode: "Cold Cuts"
1995 The Client Karen Kelso Episode: "The Peach Orchard"
1998 7th Heaven Mrs. Reese Episode: "The Legacy"
1998–2004 ER Helicopter Pilot / Judy Stiles 2 episodes
2000 Strong Medicine Unnamed Friend Episode: "Dependency"
2001 Six Feet Under Obstetrician Episode: "The Trip"
2003 Alias Medical Bay Technician Episode: "Double Agent"
2004 24 Rae Plachecki 2 episodes
2005 The Inside Traci Armstrong Episode: "Loneliest Number"
2010 Medium Mrs. Pinsley Episode: "Allison Rolen Got Married"
2013 A Hollywood Affair Agent Episode: "Agent Meeting"
2019 Star Trek: Short Treks USS Enterprise computer (voice) 2 episodes

Music videos

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Year Song Artist Notes
1988 "Reach" Martini Ranch Directed by James Cameron

Video games

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Year Title Role
2000 Star Trek: Invasion Typhoon Engineer
2002 X-Men: Next Dimension Jean Grey / Phoenix
2009 Real Heroes: Firefighter Esmeralda "Ezzy" Vasquez

Awards and nominations

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References

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  1. ^ "Jenette Goldstein". Turner Classic Movies.
  2. ^ a b ""Aliens" Star Jenette Goldstein Reflects on Controversial Casting -- And Shares Touching "Titanic" Story About James Cameron". toofab. April 25, 2016.
  3. ^ "Jenette Goldstein of Jenette Bras: The Power of Flexibility; How I Was Able to Pivot to a New Exciting Opportunity Because of the Pandemic". Medium. May 2, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "Movie Legends Revealed: The Aliens Actor Accidental Audition". CBR. August 10, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  5. ^ "Jenette Goldstein". AllMovie.
  6. ^ a b Wills, Adam (June 10, 2009). "An evening with Vasquez". Jewish Journal. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  7. ^ Mendelson, Scott (August 24, 2017). "'Terminator 2' Is One Of The Biggest And Bleakest Summer Movies Ever". Forbes. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  8. ^ "The Alphabet Starts at D..." jenettebras.com. 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  9. ^ Padilla, Max "Store openings: Jenette Bras, Vamp Shoes", All the Rage, Los Angeles Times blog, May 15, 2009. Retrieved June 15, 2009
  10. ^ Binkley, Christina (May 13, 2010). "Bra Building: New Engineering for Bigger Curves". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved May 12, 2020.(subscription required) 
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