JANINE TURNER, a native Texan, is probably best known for her role as 'Maggie O'Connell' in the Emmy Award-winning CBS series, "Northern Exposure" and in the Lifetime series, "Strong Medicine."  But, more recently she produced and directed the short film “Trip in a Summer Dress” which also starred her young daughter Juliette. She won the coveted Best New Emerging Director for a short film at the Deep Ellum Film Festival. She recently starred with Tom Wilkinson in the movie “Night of the White Pants” and also stars in “Primal Doubt” a film for Lifetime Television.  And, she co-produced and stars in a yoga video, called Christoga, which combines yoga moves with Christian meditation and is sold through her website as well as on Amazon.com. She also sang an original song she wrote for the DVD. Both the DVD and CD are available through her website. Click here!.

Janine can now add author to her resume. As a single mother since her daughter was born, she spent the last year researching twelve extraordinary single women from history who succeeded in life in spite of life. Her book “Holding Her Head High” will hit bookstores across the country on March 2, 2008. You can pre-order your copy now at Barnes&Noble.com or on Amazon.com.

Janine developed a love for the arts at a young age.  When she was three, her family moved to Euless, Texas, where Janine began studying acting and dance.  In junior high-school, she began an apprenticeship with the Fort Worth Ballet and established a successful modeling career in Dallas, which in turn led to her signing with the well-known Wilhelmina Modeling Agency in New York.  At the young age of fifteen, Janine was the modeling agency’s youngest client.

Continuing to model in New York, she also attended the Professional Children's School, and only a year later, back in Texas, landed a recurring role on the hit television series, “Dallas,” portraying Lucy Ewing's best friend.  It was then that Janine made the decision to graduate from high school a year early, give up modeling and move to Los Angeles in order to pursue her acting career.

New to Los Angeles, she landed a starring role on the late-night CBS soap "Behind The Screen," spent a year on the long-running, “General Hospital” as 'Laura Templeton,' and appeared in the feature film, "Young Doctors in Love."  After leaving “General Hospital,” Janine traveled to China for ten weeks for a co-starring role in Dino DeLaurentiis' "Tai-Pan," and upon completion of the film, moved back to New York City to continue her theatrical studies.

While in New York, Janine studied with Marcia Haufrecht of The Actor's Studio and began working off-Broadway.  She starred in The Ensemble Studio Theatre production of "Full Moon and High Tide in The Ladies Room," and performed with the avant-garde theatre group, The Common Ground Theatre.  During this time, she also held a supporting role in George Romero's "Monkey Shines," and had a memorable turn as Olympia Dukakis' niece, 'Nancy Beth Marmilion,' in the acclaimed feature film, "Steel Magnolias."

Janine then made a return to television with a co-starring role as “Maggie O’Connell” in the hit CBS series, "Northern Exposure” where she earned an Emmy nomination and three Golden Globe Award nominations for best actress in a drama series.  During this time, Janine was named one of People magazine's “50 Most Beautiful People,” one of US magazine's “10 Sexiest Women,” and one of Esquire magazine's “Women We Love.”  In 1992, she received the Women at Work Award from the National Commission on Working Women.

During hiatus from “Northern Exposure," Janine flew to the Italian Alps to play a starring role opposite Sylvester Stallone in Columbia Tri-Star's international blockbuster, "Cliffhanger."  Additional film credits include a starring role in "Curse of the Inferno," and as 'June Cleaver' in Universal's "Leave It to Beaver” and in Robert Altman's feature film, "Dr. T and the Women."

Turner has also starred in a number of highly-rated films for television.  She starred opposite Jamie Sheridan and Hal Holbrook in the CBS telefilm, "Beauty," a CBS movie "Stolen Women," "Circle of Deceit" for ABC, "Fatal Error," a TBS original film, and "Barbara Taylor Bradford's A Secret Affair."

Janine recently received a Presedential appointment and proudly serves on the President’s Council of Service and Civic Participation.  Turner still has her beloved ranch in Texas and has recently moved to New York City with daughter Juliette.