Tripplehorn had graduated at the top of her class in 1981from Edison High School. After that, she attended University of Tulsa, but quit only a half year later in order to continue appearing on the local television shows. She was acting in the Creature Feature (1982-1983) and Night Shift (1983). These projects helped her to get some experience in front of the camera. She got some confidence and went to the Julliard School in The New York City. She had graduated from the Drama Department in 1990. By 1991 she debuted on the big screens in the drama “The Perfect Tribute”. In 1992 she appeared in the “Base Instinct” as a weird psychiatrist. She was co-starring with Michael Douglas and the sex scenes out of the “Base Instinct” made her almost as popular as Sharon Stone. In 1993 she was playing with Tom Cruise in “The Firm” as his wife. In 1995 she was starring along with another “top gun” of the Hollywood – Kevin Costner in the “Water world” and Gwyneth Patrol in Sliding Doors (1998). In 1997 she has also appeared in the romantic thriller “Till There Was You”.

Her stage roles were different from her movie characters. On Broadway she was playing Masha in the Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” as well as in John Stanley’s “Big Funk” and in 1630’s play “Tis Pity She’s a Whore”.

Her personal life seemed to be very prosperous – Jeanne was dating actor Ben Stealer and engaged to him since 1993, but couple had separated in 1996. Since their break down, her career seemed to slow done for awhile, because since then she was playing only in small films, such as Office Killer and Monument Avenue.

Everything got settled in 2000 she got married to another actor Leland Orser and in 2002 they got birth to their only son August. Her carrier seemed to come back to normal. That same year she starred with Madonna in the “Swept Away”. In 2003 she came back to the TV screens in the movie “Word of Honor” and “Frasier”. In 2005 she was filming in the movie Amateurs. From 2006 to 2011 she was starring in the Big Love as Barbara Hendrickson. Many believe, it was the best role in her carrier, for which she received Satellite Award nomination for Best Actress in Television Series Drama. In 2009 she featured Jacqueline Kennedy Oasis in the movie Grey Gardens, for which she was nominated a Primetime Emmy Award for the Best Supporting Actress. From 2012 to 2014 she was starring in the Criminal Minds as Dr. Alex Blake.