AJ Cook

Biography

Andrea Joy Cook (born July 22, 1978) is a Canadian actress more commonly known as A. J. Cook. She has appeared in several Hollywood films and television shows including The Virgin Suicides, Out Cold, Final Destination 2 and Criminal Minds.

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, is a sheriff and works for a psychiatrist.[1] She has three siblings named Nathan, Paul and Angela. Cook is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[2] As a devout Mormon, she accepts only roles that don’t go against her faith. At four years of age, 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.

Career

Cook’s first job was in a McDonald’s commercial in 1997. She graduated to series work with a guest role on the television series Goosebumps, and parts in two television movies, In His Father’s Shoes and Elvis Meets Nixon. Cook launched her feature film career as one of five captivating suicidal sisters in 1999’s The Virgin Suicides. Also that year, she took a starring role in the TV series Higher Ground, in which Cook played Shelby Merrick a rough around the edges teenage girl dealing with abuse and heartache at a wilderness school for struggling kids. Higher Ground lasted one season, ending with a romance between Shelby and Hayden Christensen’s character, Scott.

After Higher Ground, Cook starred in the 2000 TV movie The Spiral Staircase, and then captured leading roles in several films, including Out Cold and Final Destination 2.

She currently stars as Jennifer “J.J.” Jareau in the CBS drama Criminal Minds.

Personal life

In September 2001, Cook married her long-time boyfriend Nathan Anderson, a pet shipping company owner, whom she met in a film class at Utah Valley State College (UVSC). She later moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to be with him and also currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

On March 21st, 2008, EW.com and celebrity-babies.com report that Cook and Anderson are expecting their first child, due in October.

Trivia
Was first “Higher Ground” cast member to know of Hayden Christensen’s winning the role of Anakin Skywalker.

Met her husband in film class at UVSC

Her father, Mike, is a teacher and her mother, Sandra, works for a psychiatrist.

Before she got into acting, she was a competitive dancer and taught dance back home in Oshawa

Didn’t begin acting until she was 17 years old

Her first acting job was in a McDonald’s commercial in 1997

Is good friends with fellow “Higher Ground” (2000) cast mate, Jewel Staite.

She has three siblings, Nathan, Paul and Angela.

Expecting her first child in late September/early October 2008.

Personal Quotes
“I am just your everyday, average girl. I live by the beach. I wear flip flops. I don’t wear make-up. I go to the gym. My husband and I are just really laid back people.”

“I have some amazing fans! They’re just so dedicated and so nice and so sweet. I’m like no one and I’m just starting out and these people appreciate your work and it’s nice to hear that.” – on her fans

It’s challenging in the way that it’s a lot of work, I’m very busy. It’s challenging in a way that it’s a sequel and I feel I got big shoes to fill. I wasn’t at all affiliated with the first one and it was very successful and I’m just kind of afraid that people will get to the theatre and say: “Who’s this girl? She wasn’t in the first one!” So that pressure is there and in that sense…it has been difficult. (On her role in Final Destination)