Bio: Canadian born actress/director. Her first big role came in the Critically Acclaimed Independent film The Virgin Suicides, directed by Sofia Coppola. AJ has gone on to star in both dramatic (Back Fork, Final Destination 2) and comedic films (Out Cold). Cook stared as Jennifer "JJ" Jareau in the long running hit TV show Criminal Minds. She will reprise her role as "JJ" in the upcoming Paramount+ revamp of Criminal Minds.
Tivia: Her TV sons on Criminal Minds (2005) (Henry LaMontagne and Michael LaMontagne) are played by her real life sons Mekhai Andersen and Phoenix Andersen.At a young age she suffered from extreme astigmatism (which caused her to have been declared "legally blind"). She ultimately obtained an eye-implant called "Visian ICL", which drastically improved her vision.Her first acting job was in a McDonald's commercial in 1997.Before she got into acting, she was a competitive dancer and taught dance back home in Oshawa.Gave birth to her first child at age 30, son Mekhai Andersen, on September 13, 2008. He weighed 7 lbs, 10 oz and was 20 inches long. Child's father is her husband, Nathan Andersen.Gave birth to her second child at age 37, son Phoenix Andersen, on July 23, 2015, at 5:49 a.m., weighed 7 lbs., 6 oz., and measured 20.5 inches. Child's father is her husband, Nathan Andersen.Met her husband in film class at UVU (Utah Valley University, formerly UVSC, Utah Valley State College).Didn't begin acting until she was 17 years old.Ranked #88 on Maxim's "Hot 100" of 2014 list.She has three siblings, Nathan, Paul and Angela.Is a huge fan of the L.A. Kings.Fan of New York Jets.