Andrea Joy Cook[1] (born July 22, 1978) is a Canadian-American
actress. She is best known for her role as Supervisory Special Agent
Jennifer "JJ" Jareau on the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds
(2005-2020). She has also appeared in The Virgin Suicides (1999),
Higher Ground (2000), Ripper (2001), Out Cold (2001), and Final
Destination 2 (2003).Cook was born in Oshawa, Ontario. She spent most
of her life growing up in nearby Whitby, where she attended Anderson
Collegiate Vocational Institute. She has three siblings: Nathan, Paul,
and Angela. Cook was declared legally blind in the second grade
because of severe astigmatism, but wore contacts and thick glasses to
correct her vision. In 2007 she underwent surgery during which a lens
implant corrected the impairment.[2] A dancer from age four,[3] Cook
began taking jazz, tap and ballet lessons. She danced competitively
for many years, before deciding at the age of 16 that she wanted to
try acting. Cook also taught dance when she was younger and has stated
that if she hadn't become an actress, she would most likely have set
up a small dance studio somewhere. In an interview, she said that she
still tap dances.Cook's first job was in a McDonald's commercial in
1997. She graduated to series work with a guest role on the television
series Goosebumps, and parts in two television movies, In His Father's
Shoes and Elvis Meets Nixon. Cook launched her feature film career as
one of five suicidal Lisbon sisters in 1999's The Virgin Suicides.
Also that year, she took a starring role in the TV series Higher
Ground, in which Cook played Shelby Merrick, a teenage girl dealing
with abuse and heartache at a wilderness school for struggling kids.
Higher Ground lasted one season, ending with a romance between Shelby
and Hayden Christensen's character, Scott.After Higher Ground, Cook
appeared in the 2000 TV movie The Spiral Staircase (alongside Higher
Ground alum Kandyse McClure), and then captured leading roles in
several films, including Out Cold (as Jason London's love interest),
Ripper, I'm Reed Fish, and Final Destination 2. In 2003, Cook guest
starred in Dead Like Me. She was also in season one of Tru Calling as
Lindsay Walker.
actress. She is best known for her role as Supervisory Special Agent
Jennifer "JJ" Jareau on the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds
(2005-2020). She has also appeared in The Virgin Suicides (1999),
Higher Ground (2000), Ripper (2001), Out Cold (2001), and Final
Destination 2 (2003).Cook was born in Oshawa, Ontario. She spent most
of her life growing up in nearby Whitby, where she attended Anderson
Collegiate Vocational Institute. She has three siblings: Nathan, Paul,
and Angela. Cook was declared legally blind in the second grade
because of severe astigmatism, but wore contacts and thick glasses to
correct her vision. In 2007 she underwent surgery during which a lens
implant corrected the impairment.[2] A dancer from age four,[3] Cook
began taking jazz, tap and ballet lessons. She danced competitively
for many years, before deciding at the age of 16 that she wanted to
try acting. Cook also taught dance when she was younger and has stated
that if she hadn't become an actress, she would most likely have set
up a small dance studio somewhere. In an interview, she said that she
still tap dances.Cook's first job was in a McDonald's commercial in
1997. She graduated to series work with a guest role on the television
series Goosebumps, and parts in two television movies, In His Father's
Shoes and Elvis Meets Nixon. Cook launched her feature film career as
one of five suicidal Lisbon sisters in 1999's The Virgin Suicides.
Also that year, she took a starring role in the TV series Higher
Ground, in which Cook played Shelby Merrick, a teenage girl dealing
with abuse and heartache at a wilderness school for struggling kids.
Higher Ground lasted one season, ending with a romance between Shelby
and Hayden Christensen's character, Scott.After Higher Ground, Cook
appeared in the 2000 TV movie The Spiral Staircase (alongside Higher
Ground alum Kandyse McClure), and then captured leading roles in
several films, including Out Cold (as Jason London's love interest),
Ripper, I'm Reed Fish, and Final Destination 2. In 2003, Cook guest
starred in Dead Like Me. She was also in season one of Tru Calling as
Lindsay Walker.
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