Jennifer Jason Leigh was born Jennifer Lee Morrow on the 5th of February 1962 in Hollywood, California to Hollywood star Vic Morrow and Hollywood screenwriter Barbara Turner. She grew up in Hollywood and at the age of 14, she trained under Lee Strasberg. At the age of 16, she already had her Screen Actors Guild membership after appearing in an episode of the television series Baretta. After Baretta she was seen in several movies made for television, including The Best Little Girl in the World.

Then in 1980, Jennifer Jason Leigh debuted for film in the movie, Eyes of a Stranger. Two years after, she was in the teen hit comedy film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The film starred future Hollywood stars such as Nicolas Cage, Forest Whitaker, Anthony Edwards, Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold, Eric Stoltz and Phoebe Cates.

In 1985, Jennifer Jason Leigh appeared in the film Flesh & Blood. In the film, she played the role of a rape victim. The following year, she was in the film The Hitcher. In 1989, she landed the role of a young woman on the brink of insanity in the film Heart of Midnight.

Then in 1990 she appeared in the Last Exit to Brooklyn as Tralala, a tough prostitute. Then still in 1990 she landed another role as a prostitute in the film Miami Blues, where she played opposite Alec Baldwin. The following year, she was in the film Rush, as a narcotics cop who eventually became a junkie.

The following year, 1992, Jennifer Jason Leigh appeared in her most memorable role in Single White Female. She played the role of the psychotic Hedy opposite actress Bridget Fonda. Then in 1994, she landed a comedic role in the film The Hudsucker Proxy. She played opposite Tim Robins in this Coen Brother�s film. The same year, was seen in Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle as poet Dorothy Parker. She earned a Golden Globe nomination and was awarded by the National Society of Film Critics, Fort Lauderdale Film Critics and Chicago Film Critics as Best Actress for her portrayal. Then in 1995 she appeared in Georgia as Sadie Flood and was awarded by the New York Film Critics Circle the Best Actress Award.

Other appearances to Jennifer Jason Leigh's credit included, Short Cut, Dolores Claiborne, Kansas City, Washington Square, eXistenZ, Anniversary Party, Road to Perdition, In the Cut, Backdraft, Childstar and The Machinist.

Jennifer Jason Leigh also appeared on the Broadway productions of Cabaret, Proof, The Glass Menagerie, The Shadow Box, Sunshine, Abigail�s Party, Man of Destiny and Picnic.