* She attended the infamous Stagedoor Manor, which is an upstate New York summer camp that trains teenagers in acting, singing and dancing. Her fellow alumni include sitcom actor Zach Braff from NBC's Scrubs (2001), the writer and director Todd Graff (who made a film about the camp), and the pop star Mandy Moore.* She is good friends with actress/model Phoebe Cates; they met while filming FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982) together.
* Frequently works with maverick director Robert Altman who, before his maverick days, worked with her father, Vic Morrow on the sixties televison series Combat! (1962).
* Auditioned for the role of Sarah Connor in THE TERMINATOR (1984) but lost out to Linda Hamilton.
* The song Jennifer Jason Leigh by the punk band J Church has lyrics made up from interview quotes.
* Turned down both PRETTY WOMAN (1990) and MEN IN BLACK II (2002).
* She signed on for the film SPREAD (2009) but later backed out, and is being replaced by Anne Heche.
* She was one of several actresses considered by Jane Campion for the Holly Hunter role in THE PIANO (1993), but she was unable to meet with her because she was shooting RUSH (1991) at the time.
* Dario Argento offered her the female lead in his film Sindrome di LA STENDHAL (1996), but she turned it down. It was eventually played by his daughter Asia Argento.
* Turned down the Kyra Sedgwick role in SINGLES (1992).
* Was offered the Kim Basinger role in L.A. CONFIDENTIAL (1997) but turned it down as she had already played a few prostitutes.
* Lived with Eric Stoltz for 5 years in the 80s
* One of her best friends is Paul Thomas Anderson.
* Is of Russian descent.
* Also credited as: Jennifer Leigh
* Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for MRS. PARKER AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE (1995)
