Jacinda Barrett, an Australian-born actress, has made a significant impact in the American entertainment industry with her convincing accent. Her early introduction to American audiences was through MTV's The Real World in 1992, during its fourth season set in London. This led to her breakthrough role in the 2003 film The Human Stain, directed by Oscar-winning director Robert Benton, alongside Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman. The film received critical acclaim, showcasing Barrett's acting skills.
Following her success in The Human Stain, Barrett starred in the 2004 film Ladder 49, a movie that paid tribute to her firefighter father. The film spanned 10 years in the life of a Baltimore firefighting family, featuring Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta. Soon after, she appeared in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) alongside Renée Zellweger.
In 2006, Barrett starred in the action disaster film Poseidon, directed by Wolfgang Petersen, and the comedy School for Scoundrels, alongside Billy Bob Thornton. She received critical praise for her challenging role in The Last Kiss (2006),with A.O. Scott from The New York Times stating, "Ms. Barrett is a glowing, lovely presence, giving full voice to the rage, humiliation, and hurt." Shauna Lyon from The New Yorker wrote, "Jacinda Barrett steals the show as Michael's beautiful, reasonable life partner, offering a volatile, realistic portrayal of a woman scorned."
Barrett's subsequent roles included the adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "The Namesake," directed by Mira Nair, and Middle Men (2009),a film about the founding of the Internet porn industry, alongside her husband Gabriel Macht.
In addition to her film work, Barrett has appeared in several TV series, most recently in Zero Hour (2013),a show that is no longer on the air. Although she grew up in Brisbane, her first Australian role was in the 2010 film Matching Jack, as she left home at 17 to work and travel the world.
Barrett is married to Gabriel Macht and they have two children together. In 1997, she was named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People.
