Jennifer Morrison started her career as a child model, appearing in print and TV advertisements, and later being featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated for Kids. She made her film debut in 1994's Intersection, alongside Richard Gere.
After graduating from Loyola University Chicago in 2000, and subsequently training with the Steppenwolfe Theatre Company, Morrison snagged her first major film role, appearing in 2000's Urban Legends: Final Cut. Later notable films include Grind, Surviving Christmas, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, as well as a minor but critical role in J.J. Abrams' reboot of Star Trek.
Her first major television stint came in 2004, when she joined the cast of the Fox medical drama House as the idealistic Allison Cameron. She held the role until 2010, when her contract expired. She then took a recurring role on CBS' How I Met Your Mother, as activity Zoey Pierson. In 2011, she was cast as Emma Swan on ABC’s fantasy-drama Once Upon a Time.
- She is credited as a producer of the first season of the Fox series Glee. She explained that she found one of the show's early drafts, penned by Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, and brought it to the attention of future co-creator Ryan Murphy.
- She played clarinet in high school marching and symphonic bands.
- She is a former high school cheerleader.