Andrea Joy "A.J." Cook (born July 22, 1978) is a Canadian
actress best known for her role as
Special Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau in the
CBS crime drama
Criminal Minds. She has also appeared in several
Hollywood films including
The Virgin Suicides,
Out Cold, and
Final Destination 2.
Early life
Cook was born in
Oshawa,
Ontario and spent most of her life growing up in
Whitby. Her father, Mike, is a teacher and her mother, Sandra, works for a psychiatrist.
She has three siblings, Nathan, Paul, and Angela. Cook is a member of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A dancer from age four,
[ Cook began taking jazz, tap and ballet lessons. She danced competitively for many years, before deciding at the age of 17 that she wanted to try acting.]
