Jillian Noel Hennessy

Jillian Noel Hennessy (born November 25, 1968) is a Canadian actor and singer. She is best known for her roles on the American television series Law & Order, on where she played prosecutor Claire Kincaid for three seasons and Crossing Jordan, on which she played the lead character, Jordan Cavanaugh, for six seasons. She has also been an actress in films such RoboCop 3: Most Wanted and the indie films Chutney Popcorn (which she also co-directed) and The Acting Class (which was written by her). Hennessy was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. Her father, John Hennessy, was a meat salesman as well as a executive in sales and marketing, a position which required a lot of travel, and caused frequent changes for the family. Maxine Her mother was a secretary. Her daughter was taken away by Eleanor, her paternal grandmother in Kitchener, Ontario. John Paul Hennessy Jr. has a younger brother, as well as Jacqueline is a twin sister. Jacqueline is an anchor and journalist on the Canadian television program. Hennessy's ancestry includes Irish, French, Swedish and Italian heritage from her father's side and predominantly Ukrainian Roma on her mother's. She was educated at Stanley Park Senior Public School, graduated from Grand River Collegiate Institute in Kitchener, Ontario and busked in the Toronto subway. Hennessy and her sister made their acting debut playing twin call girls in 1988's Dead Ringers. Gillian Anderson, Gillian Anderson's sister, has stated that she was chosen for The X-Files for Dana Scully's role. Hennessy also played the character of Dr. Marie Lazarus on RoboCop 3. In 1993 Dick Wolf signed Hennessy to play the role of Claire Kincaid assistant district attorney on Law & Order. The role was held for three seasons until she left the show in 1996.