Jenette Elise Goldstein (born February 4, 1960) is an American actress. Known for her collaborations with director James Cameron, 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.

Early life

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

Career

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. 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. Next, she made cameos as a USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-B) 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

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

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Video games

Awards and nominations