Jennifer Esposito (born April 11, 1973) See also: is an American actress and director. She is known for her roles in the feature films Summer of Sam (1999), Don't Say a Word (2001), The Master of Disguise (2002), Welcome to Collinwood (2002), Crash (2004), Taxi (2004), and Mob Town (2019). She has also appeared in several television series, most notably The Looney Tunes Show, Spin City, Related, Samantha Who?, Blue Bloods, and Mistresses. From 2016 to 2017, she played Special Agent Alexandra Quinn on the CBS series NCIS, while from 2019 to 2020, she played CIA Deputy Director Susan Raynor in the Amazon series The Boys.

Early life Esposito was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City and is of Italian descent. She was raised on Staten Island in Bulls Head and is a graduate of Moore Catholic High School.

Career

Esposito made her first television appearance in Law & Order in 1996. She then joined the cast of Spin City, where she appeared for two seasons. She also appeared in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. One of her more notable roles was as "Ruby" in Spike Lee's Summer of Sam in 1999, which was set against the late 1970s backdrop of the Son of Sam murders. Esposito's next films included Dracula 2000, The Master of Disguise, the 2004 comedy Taxi, and the Academy Award-winning film Crash, in which she played Don Cheadle's partner and romantic interest, Ria.

Esposito joined Jon Favreau, Stephen Dorff, Luis Guzmán, and Barry Pepper for Dinner for Five season 3, episode 7, on May 21, 2004. Esposito has made television appearances on the series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Rescue Me, and Mercy. She was a regular cast member on Related and Samantha Who? Esposito joined the cast of the CBS drama Blue Bloods in 2010, playing the role of Detective Jackie Curatola, the partner of Detective Danny Reagan (played by Donnie Wahlberg). In the third season Esposito was diagnosed with celiac disease and, after collapsing on set, Esposito informed CBS that her condition would limit her availability to work on the series. Rather than work around her limited schedule, Blue Bloods producers chose to write her character out of the series in 2012.

In 2013, she launched Jennifer's Way Bakery in Manhattan's West Village, which only serves celiac-safe food. In 2014 she joined the NBC series Taxi Brooklyn. On April 22, 2014, Da Capo Lifelong Books published Esposito's first book Jennifer's Way, a detailed look into her personal struggle with celiac disease before and after she was diagnosed and the things she did to survive. The book made The New York Times Best Seller List on July 6, 2014. In 2015, Esposito played Calista Raines in the ABC drama series Mistresses, and it was reported that she would be a cast member on the CBS pilot Taxi-22, whose main character would be played by John Leguizamo. She played Dominic West's sister in the Showtime series The Affair for six episodes.

Esposito became the brand ambassador for Eclair Naturals also in 2015, a gluten- and GMO-free vegan body and skin care line available in Rite Aid stores across the United States. In 2016, it was announced that Esposito would join the cast of NCIS as Special Agent Alexandra "Alex" Quinn, executive producer Gary Glasberg noting, "We couldn't be happier to have Jennifer Esposito joining us for season 14. She embodies everything that we hoped for in the character of Quinn and we can't wait to have her come be a part of our team." In June 2017, it was announced that this would be her only season. Esposito appeared on the September 10, 2016, episode of Oprah: Where Are They Now?, where she said her doctor had her hospitalized in a psychiatric ward. She said the hospitalization happened during the time she was an actress on the show Samantha Who?

In 2019, she joined the cast of The Boys, an Amazon Prime Exclusive. In August, she was set to play a recurring role in the Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens series on Comedy Central.

In February 2020, it was announced that Esposito had joined the cast of the Netflix series Inventing Anna created by Shonda Rhimes in the role of Talia Mallay. However, this role was ultimately played by Marika Domińczyk.

In 2023, Esposito wrote, directed, and starred in the film Fresh Kills playing the mother of two daughters in a coming-of-age story centered in the world of an organized crime family.

Personal life Esposito married actor Bradley Cooper on December 30, 2006.Jordan, Julie. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Esposito Marry, People, January 4, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2008. They divorced in November 2007.Fromm, Emily. Jennifer Esposito, Bradley Cooper Split, People, May 2, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2008.

In 2009, Esposito became engaged to Australian tennis player Mark Philippoussis. The couple separated in August 2010.

In May 2014, Esposito announced her engagement to British model Louis Dowler. They married on November 16, 2014, in New York City. It was reported in March 2016 that Esposito had filed for divorce from Dowler.

In 2020, Esposito married Jesper Vesterstrøm.

In October 2011, Esposito revealed that she had celiac disease.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1997A Brother's KissLucyKiss Me, GuidoDebbieA Brooklyn State of MindDonna Delgrosso1998No Looking BackTeresaHe Got GameMs. JanusCharlie HobokenGirl in churchSide StreetsJessicaI Still Know What You Did Last SummerNancy1999Summer of SamRubyJust One TimeMichelleThe BachelorDaphne2000Dracula 2000Solina2001BackflashOlive Dee "Harley" KlintuckerDirect to videoThe ProposalSusan ReeseMadeClub girlUncreditedDon't Say a WordDet. Sandra CassidyBeyond the City LimitsHelena Toretti2002Welcome to CollinwoodCarmelaThe Master of DisguiseJennifer Baker2004Breakin' All the RulesRita MonroeCrashRia TaxiLt. Marta Robbins2006Jesus, Mary and JoeyFrankie Vitello2008ConspiracyJoannaAmerican CrudeCarlos2009Four Single FathersSuzanne2011MamitasMiss Ruiz2012Bending the RulesOlivia Garcia2014She's Funny That WayMargie2018Speed KillsKathy Aronoff2019 Mary Detective Clarkson Mob Town Natalie Passatino2022Somewhere in QueensPamela Carmelo2023Fresh KillsFrancine LarussoDirector, writer and producer2025F PlusPrincipal Neely

Television Year Title Role Notes1995–1996The CityConnie Soleito3 episodes (Season 1: Episodes 14, 15 & 143)1996The Sunshine BoysJeannieTelevision filmLaw & OrderGina TucciEpisode: "Good Girl"1997FedsFloEpisode: "Crash and Burn"1997–1999Spin CityStacey Paterno46 episodes1998New York UndercoverGina Stone3 episodes2000Law & Order: Special Victims UnitSara LoganEpisode: "Remorse"2002HackAbbyEpisode: "Obsession"2004–2005Judging AmyLouann "Crystal" Turner8 episodes2005–2006RelatedGinnie SorelliMain role2005Snow WonderPilarTelevision film2006Law & OrderJustine BaileyEpisode: "In Vino Veritas"2007Rescue MeNona5 episodes2007–2009Samantha Who?Andrea BelladonnaMain role2010MercyJules Fattore2 episodesThe Wish ListSarah FisherTelevision film2010–2012, 2023 and 2024Blue BloodsDetective Jackie Curatola/Chief of Police Jackie CuratolaMain role, seasons 1–3; Guest, seasons 13 & 14, episodes: "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" & "Dropping Bombs"2011–2012The Looney Tunes ShowTina Russo (voice)5 episodes2014Taxi BrooklynMonica PenaMain role2015MistressesCalista Raines 2015–2017The AffairNina Solloway6 episodes2016–2017NCISNCIS Special Agent Alexandra "Alex" QuinnMain role 2018BlindspotLynette2 episodes2019–2021Law & Order: Special Victims UnitSergeant Phoebe Baker4 episodes2019–2020The BoysSusan Raynor6 episodes2020–2023Awkwafina Is Nora from QueensBrenda14 episodes

Web Year Title Role Notes2009RoanMain role; 4 episodes2018Liza on DemandHollyEpisode: "Pilot"

References

External links

Jennifer Esposito on Twitter