AJ Cook is a Canadian-born actress. To viewers, she is best known for portraying the character of Special Agent Jennifer “JJ” Jareau on the long-running hit series. Criminal Minds. Beyond her work on the small screen, the talented actress has also recorded some film credits, particularly in the horror genre. She had roles in The Virgin Suicides, Ripper, Out Cold, Night Sky, and Final Destination 2. We learn more about this beloved actress; his relationship status, family life, and other juicy details about the Criminal Minds star.
Who is AJ Cook?
This beloved actress was born Andrea Joy Cookle on July 22, 1978. She was born in Oshawa, Ontario but grew up in Whitby, also Ontario. She grew up alongside 3 siblings Nathan, Paul and Angela. Her parents are Sandra and Mike Cook. She received her high school education at Anderson Collegiate Vocational Institute.
AJ Cook had her first acting job in a McDonald’s commercial in 1997. She then had guest roles on the series Goosebumps (1997) and Psi Factor (1997-1998). She also appeared in the TV movies Elvis Meets Nixon (1997), In His Father’s Shoes (1997), Blue Moon (1999) and The Spiral Staircase (2000).
Cook got her first major television role in the short-lived series Higher Ground (2000) in which she portrayed the character, Shelby Merrick. She was also on the main cast of the series Tru Calling (2003-04) and she played a leading role in the TV movie Leech (2005). Also in 2005, the talented actress got the most defining role of her career as Jennifer Jareau in the detective series. Criminal Minds (2005-2019). The talented actress remained a part of the Criminal Minds cast throughout the show’s 15 seasons.
It is known that J. Cook has also done very well in terms of film credits. In 1997, she made her feature film debut in the sci-fi film Laserhawk and since then has continued to deliver stellar performances in films of various genres. Some of his notable film credits include The Virgin Suicides (1999), Ripper (2001), Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell (2001), Out Cold (2001), Final Destination 2 (2003), I Am a Reed Fish (2006), Night Sky (2007), Mother’s Day (2010), Least Among the Saints (2012) andWer (2013).
Interesting facts you need to know
- His religion
AJ Cook belongs to the Christian Church of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, her religious beliefs do not limit the type of roles she accepts.
- She was legally blind as a child
Cook suffered from a severe form of astigmatism due to which she was declared second degree blind. As a result, she wore contact glasses and thick glasses to improve her vision. She eventually underwent surgery during which she received an implant to correct the deficiency.
- She used to be a competitive dancer
UN J. Cook is definitely loving her acting career. However, it is interesting to know that this talented Hollywood star originally wanted to be a professional dancer and dance teacher. As the actress herself revealed, she began taking dance lessons from the age of 4. She trained in jazz, ballet and ballet and was a competitive dancer for many years. Despite her many successes as a dancer, Cook was inspired to perform at 16 and, as they say, the rest is history.
- Relationship and family life
The Hollywood actress has been married for several years to her college sweetheart Nathan Andersen. The duo met in a film class at Utah Valley University. They dated for a while and finally got married on August 3, 2001. The couple have two children. Their first child was born in September 2008, to a son named Mekhai. They welcomed their second child in July 2015, a son named Phoenix Sky.
- Height and other body statistics
A J. Cook stands at a height of 170cm (5ft 7in). Now in her 40s, the ageless actress maintains an enviable physique, with a body weight of 54kg. Her bust size is 34 inches (86 cm), while her waist and hips measure 23 inches (58.5 cm) and 33 inches (84 cm). Cook’s mane of gorgeous blonde hair is his most distinctive physical feature.