Prior to her breakthrough role, Jean-Baptiste had a small role as a nanny in Hanif Kureishi's "London Kills Me" (1993), which focused on the lives of homeless teens living in the London Underground. Despite the international attention earned with "Secrets & Lies", including a Golden Globe nomination and pre-Oscar buzz, it was reported in January 1997 that Jean-Baptiste was unemployed and "living on the dole" in London. That changed, however, when she joined the cast of Noah Baumbach's second feature "Mr. Jealousy" (1998).