Jennifer Morrison

Jennifer Morrison
Morrison at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con
Born	(1979-04-12) April 12, 1979 (age 37) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Occupation	Actress, model, producer, director
Years active	1994–present

Jennifer Marie Morrison (born April 12, 1979) is an American actress, model, producer, and director. She is known for her roles as Dr. Allison Cameron in the medical drama series House (2004–2012) and Emma Swan in the ABC adventure fantasy series Once Upon a Time (2011–present). She also has portrayed Zoey Pierson, one of Ted Mosby's love interests on the comedy series How I Met Your Mother; Winona Kirk, mother of James T. Kirk in the 2009 science fiction film Star Trek; and Tess Conlon in the 2011 sports drama film Warrior.

Morrison was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Arlington Heights, Illinois. She is the oldest of three children; her sister, Julia, is a singer-songwriter and music therapist, and her brother, Daniel, is a high school band director. Her father, David L. Morrison, is a retired music teacher and high school band director who was named Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education in 2003.

Morrison attended South Middle School, and then graduated from Prospect High School (where her parents worked) in 1997. She was friends with writer Ian Brennan. She was an All-State clarinet player in the school's marching band, sang in the choir, and was a cheerleader in the school pep squad. She attended Loyola University Chicago where she majored in Theatre and minored in English, graduating in 2000. She studied at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company before moving to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career in acting.