Annie Parisse
Anne Marie Cancelmi (born July 31, 1975), known professionally as Annie Parisse, is an American actress. She portrayed Alexandra Borgia on the drama series "Law & Order". Parisse has also starred as Julia Snyder on the soap opera "As the World Turns", for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award. Early life. Parisse was born in Anchorage, Alaska, the daughter of Annette, a teacher, and Louis G. Cancelmi, a senior executive with Alaska Airlines. Her brother Louis is also an actor. Louis is married to Elisabeth Waterston, a daughter of "Law & Order" veteran Sam Waterston. Parisse grew  up in Mercer Island, Washington, and attended Mercer Island High School. Parisse moved to New York City when she was 18 to attend Fordham University where she majored in theater, and appeared in numerous productions, including "Medea" and "Antigone", both of which featured her as the lead. Career. Television and film. Parisse joined the cast of the CBS soap opera "As the World Turns" as Julia Snyder from 1998 to 2001 and returned for a few episodes in 2002. She was later nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series in 2001. Early in  her career, Parisse guest starred on shows such as "Big Apple", "Third Watch", and "Friends". She made a 2002 appearance on "Law & Order", playing an exotic dancer in the episode "Attorney Client", where she testified against a defendant (a defense attorney) who plotted the murder of his wife. In a 2002 supporting role, Parisse portrayed Jeannie Ashcroft in "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days". She also had a minor role in the 2004 action movie "National Treasure", playing the role of Agent Dawes, who was Agent Sadusky's assistant. For the 2005 film "Monster-in-Law", she held  a supporting role. Parisse was a main cast member of "Law & Order" during seasons 15 and 16. She first appeared in season 12 as a stripper and prostitute, making her one of the few "Law & Order" cast members who had a solo appearance prior to securing a sustaining role. Parisse quit her role on "Law & Order", making her final appearance in the May 17, 2006, season finale, in which her character is killed. In the 2010 war drama "The Pacific", Parisse took on the role of Marine Sergeant Lena Riggi Basilone, wife of John Basilone, the revered United States Marine  Gunnery Sergeant. She had a recurring role on CBS' "Person of Interest" as Kara Stanton, the former partner of Jim Caviezel's character John Reese. In August 2012, Parisse was cast in a regular role on the Fox series "The Following", premiering on January 21, 2013, as an FBI specialist. In 2016, Parisse appeared in the HBO series "Vinyl" as Andrea Zito, and in 2017, starred in the Netflix series "Friends from College" as Samantha "Sam" Delmonico. Stage. Starting on March 8, 2007, Parisse starred in a revival of Craig Lucas's "Prelude to a Kiss", with Alan Tudyk and  John Mahoney. In 2008, Parisse reprised her work in an Off Broadway performance as the title role of "Becky Shaw". In the summer of 2011, Parisse appeared in the New York Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park productions of "Measure for Measure" and "All's Well that Ends Well". Personal life. Parisse is married to actor Paul Sparks. They have a son, Emmett (born 2009), and a daughter, Lydia (born 2014). They reside in Manhattan, New York City, New York.