Janine Turner (born Janine Gauntt on December 6, 1962) is an American actress, best known for her starring role on the television show Northern Exposure from 1990 to 1995 and on General Hospital from 1982 to 1983. She was born in Lincoln, Nebraska and raised in Euless, Texas. At the age of 15 she left home to pursue a modeling career with the Wilhelmina Modeling Agency. She began her acting career in 1980, at the age of 18, in an episode of Dallas. In 1983 she became engaged to Alec Baldwin but the two never made it to the altar.
After her breakthrough in Northern Exposure she appeared in the poorly received, big budget action film Cliffhanger, starring Sylvester Stallone. She currently lives on a ranch outside of Dallas, Texas with her daughter Juliette (born November 22, 1997).
She is also known for her role as Dr. Dana Stowe on the Lifetime original series, Strong Medicine.
She is one of the few politically Conservative actresses.
