Jessica Phillips

Jessica Phillips (born November 3, 1971) is an American actress, best known for her roles in multiple Broadway shows and the role of Pippa Cox in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Early life and education Phillips is the eldest daughter of Dr. Gary Phillips, a religious historian and writer, and Alice Phillips. She was born in Nashville, Tennessee, but raised in Sutton, Massachusetts. Phillips was a competitive dancer before turning to acting, studying the Linklater Technique as a teen and later training under Kristin Linklater herself. Phillips attended the Worcester Academy in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she graduated in 1989. She then earned a BFA in musical theatre in 1994 from Emerson College, where she studied under director Leo Nickole.

Career Her first audition after college led to the role of Mrs. Walker in the Broadway touring company of The Who's Tommy.

In 1999, she returned to Nashville for five years, where she appeared in the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat musical and performed on radio as a demo singer.

Phillips has starred in multiple Broadway shows, including all three versions of The Scarlet Pimpernel (Marguerite), Next to Normal (Diana), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Marion), and most recently Leap of Faith (Marla). and as Michele Serling in Deathless by Zack Zadek at Goodspeed Musicals in 2017.

Television She has guest starred in several television series including Unforgettable, Royal Pains, and Elementary. Between 2013 and 2016, Phillips played attorney Pippa Cox in seven episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on NBC. NBC nominated her for the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for the 2016 Emmy Awards, but she did not progress to the final round.

Country music With Tad Wilson, a former cast member (and her future husband), Phillips sang in the country duo, "10th & Carlisle."

Personal life Phillips has two sons, Jonah and Malcolm, from a prior marriage to Nicholas Rohlfing.

Theatre credits Year Title Role Theatre Director(s) 1996 The Who's Tommy Mrs. Walker National Tour 1998–99 The Scarlet Pimpernel Ensemble Minskoff Theatre 1999–00 Neil Simon Theatre 2005-06 The Who's Tommy Mrs. Walker European Tour 2009–10 Next to Normal Diana Booth Theatre 2011–12 Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Marion Palace Theatre 2012 Leap of Faith Marla McGowan St. James Theatre 2018 Dear Evan Hansen Heidi Hansen U.S. National Tour 2019-2020Music Box Theatre 2025-present Redwood Jesse Nederlander Theatre •

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2012 Bronx Warrants Adele Destefano Television film 2013 La vida inesperada Camarera Cantante 2015 Albert Cummings Project Diane Video short 2018 Absent Mind Kimberly Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 2013 Unforgettable Melanie Lambert Episode: "Reunion" 2013–20Law & Order: Special Victims Unit A.D.A. Pippa Cox 8 episodes 2014 Royal Pains Actress Episode: "A Bridge Not Quite Far Enough" 2017 Elementary Marine Archaeologist Episode: "Dead Man's Tale" 2021 Why Women Kill Joan Recurring role