It was reported in 2007, that she was dating her Dexter co-star Michael C. Hall.[2] They announced in early January 2009 that they had eloped on New Year's Eve in California. Their first public appearance as a married couple was at the 66th Golden Globe Awards on January 11, 2009.
Carpenter was born in Louisville, Kentucky and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville. She trained at the Walden Theatre Conservatory, and later at the Juilliard School in New York City. Before graduation she was cast in the Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's The Crucible starring Liam Neeson and Laura Linney.
Jennifer Leann Carpenter (born December 7, 1979) is an American actress, best known for her roles as Emily Rose in The Exorcism of Emily Rose, as Debra Morgan in Dexter, and as the lead role in the 2008 horror movie Quarantine.
Carpenter first attracted critical attention for her performance in The Exorcism of Emily Rose. She took home the 2006 MTV Movie Award for "Best Frightened Performance", and also received a Hollywood Life Breakthrough Award. She was also named "Breakout Performer" at the 2006 Scream Awards.
Carpenter currently plays the role of Debra Morgan in the Showtime television series Dexter which premiered October 1, 2006. Her portrayal of the title character's sister has impressed some critics, with Australian journalist Jack Marx describing her "cool and clumsy" performance as "so perfect that many viewers appear to have mistaken the character's flaws for the actor's". However, others have panned her for overacting during dramatic scenes, criticizing her melodramatic emotional reactions.
