Acting
Jennifer Lien
**Jennifer Lien: A Glimpse into Her Life and Career**
Jennifer Ann Lien, born on August 24, 1974, in Palos Heights, Illinois, is an accomplished American actress renowned for her role as Kes in the iconic television series *Star Trek: Voyager*. Growing up as the youngest of three children, she was influenced by her mother, Delores Lien, a college educator, who fostered her creative ambitions.
Lien's career began in the early 1990s with a memorable appearance in a bubblegum commercial, where she portrayed twins. She quickly transitioned to television, landing her first series role as a music academy student in the 1990 episode of *Brewster Place*, which starred Oprah Winfrey. In 1991, she became a regular on the soap opera *Another World* as Hannah Moore.
Her breakthrough came in 1994 when she was cast as Kes, an Ocampan who joins the crew of the starship Voyager. Lien's character, who has a lifespan of only 8 to 9 years, captivated audiences until her departure from the series in 1997, coinciding with Jeri Ryan's introduction as Seven of Nine. Lien later reprised her role in the 2000 episode "Fury."
In addition to her television work, Lien appeared in critically acclaimed films such as *American History X* and *SLC Punk!*, and lent her voice to characters in *The Lion King II: Simba's Pride* and *Men in Black: The Series*.
Outside of acting, she is married to writer and filmmaker Phil Hwang, with whom she shares a son, Jonah, born on September 5, 2002. Since then, Lien has stepped back from the entertainment industry, serving as an executive producer for her husband's 2008 film, *Geek Mythology*.
