Jennifer Carpenter

Jennifer Leann Carpenter (born 7 December 1979) is an American film actress.

Carpenter was born in Louisville, Kentucky and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville. She trained at the Walden Theatre Conservatory in Louisville, later the Juilliard School in New York City. Already before graduation she was cast in the Broadway revival of Arthur Miller\'s The Crucible starring Liam Neeson and Laura Linney. Carpenter currently plays the role of Debra Morgan in the Showtime television series Dexter which premiered 1 October 2006.

She took home the 2006 MTV Movie Award for 'Best Frightened Performance' for her role in The Exorcism of Emily Rose; she earned the role partially due to her ability to contort her body and face in frightening ways (as Scott Derrickson explains on the DVD commentary, pointing out that most of her "demonic" contortions were achieved without the use of visual effects). She also received a Hollywood Life Breakthrough Award.

Selected Filmography

    * Quarantine (2008) - Angela
    * Battle in Seattle (2008) - Sam
    * The Dog Problem (2006) - Red-headed Waitress
    * Dexter (2006 - Present) - Debra Morgan
    * The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) - Emily Rose
    * Lethal Eviction (2005) - Sarah/Tessi/Beth
    * Queen B (2005) - Kristen
    * Last Days of America (2005)
    * White Chicks (2004) - Lisa
    * DEBS (2004) - Hysterical Student
    * People Are Dead (2002)

(Wikipedia)