Jill Hennessy, born Jillian Noel Hennessy on November 25, 1968, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, is a talented actress and singer. She is best known for her roles on the American television series "Law & Order," where she played prosecutor Claire Kincaid for three seasons, and "Crossing Jordan," where she portrayed the lead character, Jordan Cavanaugh, for six seasons.

Her career began in 1988 when she and her identical twin sister, Jacqueline, made their acting debut playing twin call girls in the film "Dead Ringers." Her early life was marked by frequent moves due to her father's job as a meat salesman and sales/marketing executive.

Her mother, Maxine, left the family in 1982, and Hennessy was partially raised by her paternal grandmother, Eleanor, in Kitchener, Ontario. She has a younger brother, John Paul "J.P." Hennessy Jr., an older sister, Faith, and her twin sister, Jacqueline, who is a magazine writer and TV show host in Canada.

She attended Stanley Park Senior Public School and graduated from Grand River Collegiate Institute. She used to busk in the Toronto subway, playing the guitar and singing for money.

Her big network breakthrough came in 1993 when she was signed by Dick Wolf to play assistant district attorney Claire Kincaid in the NBC crime drama "Law & Order." She played the role for three seasons, leaving the show in 1996.

Jill Hennessy has appeared in several films, including "RoboCop 3," "Most Wanted," "Chutney Popcorn," and "The Acting Class," which she also wrote and co-directed. She received praise for her portrayal of Jackie Kennedy in the film "Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot" and for her role as Elsie Douglas in the film "Nuremberg."

Jill Hennessy is married to Paolo Mastropietro, an Italian who shares her love of riding motorbikes. They have two children, Marco and Gianni Mastropietro.

She is also a singer and songwriter, having released two albums, "Ghost In My Head" and "I Do." She performed on the Lilith Tour with Sarah McLachlan, The Indigo Girls, and the Dixie Chicks and was featured on The Indigo Girls' live album "Staring Down The Brilliant Dream."

Her career has been marked by numerous accolades, including a nomination for a People's Choice Award for her work in "Crossing Jordan" and a Golden Satellite Award for her work in "Nuremberg."