Jillian Noel Hennessy

Jillian Noel Hennessy (born November 25, 1968) is a Canadian actress and singer. She is best known for her role on the American television show Law & Order, on which she played the prosecutor Claire Kincaid for three seasons and Crossing Jordan, on which she was the main character, Jordan Cavanaugh, for six seasons. She also appeared in films such as RoboCop 3 (most wanted) and Crossing Jordan (which she also wrote and directed). Hennessy was born in Edmonton, Alberta. John Hennessy, her father was a meat salesman as well as a marketing/sales executive. His work required a lot of traveling, which meant several moves for the family. Maxine Hernnessy was Maxine's mother and secretary, died in the year 1982. Eleanor her paternal grandmother in Kitchener (Ontario) played a part in raising her daughter. Her younger brother named John Paul "J.P." Hennessy, Jr., and an identical twin sister named Jacqueline She is an editor for magazines and a TV host in Canada. Hennessy is of Irish, French and Swedish descent, as well as Ukrainian Roma and Austrian ancestry. 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's sister and she made their acting debut as twin callgirls in 1988’s Dead Ringers. The actress was nominated for the role of Dana Scully on The X-Files according to Gillian Anderson, the actress who was eventually offered the role.She made an appearance on Broadway in the musical Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story in 1990.In 1993, she starred in the role of Dr. Marie Lazarus in RoboCop 3.In 1993, Dick Wolf signed Hennessy as assistant district attorney Claire Kincaid in the NBC crime drama Law & Order. The role was held for three seasons before she quit the show in 1996.