Jennifer Westfeldt life and biography

Jennifer Westfeldt is an American actress and screenwriter known for the hit 2001 independent film Kissing Jessica Stein, which she co-wrote with Heather Juergensen and in which the two women starred.

Born in Guilford, Connecticut to a Swedish-American father and Jewish mother, Westfeldt was raised in her mother's religion. She graduated from Guilford High School and attended Yale University, where she sang with the a cappella group Redhot & Blue. She is a member of the untitled family of Wästfelt in the nobility of Sweden.

After college, she performed in many stage productions, both straight plays and musicals. She moved from New York to Los Angeles in the mid-1990s where she landed a leading role in the ABC series, "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place" (1998) Other television credits included "Holding the Baby" (1998), "Snoops" (1999)and "Judging Amy" (1999). Wanting to write some stage work for herself, she attended a writer's boot camp, met Heather Juergensen and together, they wrote a series of vignettes that were performed under the title, 'Lipschtick' on stage. One vignette was about two straight women who decide to try going with each other. They were encouraged to develop that segment as a film script. When the script was finished, it was in development for over two years. The two bought the rights back to their script and independently financed and shot the film under the title, Kissing Jessica Stein (2001). It has been released to critical and financial success. In 2003, she made her Broadway debut in the musical "Wonderful Town". When not acting, Jennifer continues to write new material.

Jennifer Westfeldt Fast Facts:

- Sang with the a cappella group Redhot & Blue while attending Yale University.
- Cowrote and coproduced the 2001 indie hit Kissing Jessica Stein with costar Heather Juergensen.
- Was nominated for an IFP Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay in 2003 for Kissing Jessica Stein.
- Wrote and starred in the 2006 romantic comedy Ira & Abby.
- Had a recurring role in the final season of 24.

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