Jennifer Morrison

Jennifer Marie Morrison is an American actress, model and film producer. She portrays the role of Emma Swan in the ABC series Once Upon a Time.

Morrison was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 12, 1979, and raised in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Her father, David L. Morrison, is a retired music teacher who was named "Teacher of the Year" by the Illinois State Board of Education in 2003. Morrison's mother, Judy Morrison, is also a retired teacher. Morrison is the eldest of three children, with a sister, Julia, and a brother, Daniel. She graduated from Prospect High School in 1997, where her parents also worked. She played clarinet in the school's marching band, sang in the choir and was a cheerleader with the school's pep squad. She attended Loyola University Chicago where she majored in Theatre and minored in English, graduating in 2000. She studied with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and television.