Piper Lisa Perabo, born on October 31, 1976, in Dallas, Texas, is an American actress known for her versatile roles in film, television, and theater. Raised in Toms River, New Jersey, she is the eldest of three children, with two brothers, Noah and Adam. Her parents, Mary Charlotte (née Ulland), a physical therapist, and George William Perabo, a lecturer in poetry, named her after actress Piper Laurie.

She graduated from Toms River High School North in 1994 and earned a bachelor's degree in theater from Ohio University in 1998.

Her career took off with her breakthrough role in the 2000 comedy-drama film "Coyote Ugly," where she played Violet "Jersey" Sanford. The film's success at the box office helped establish her as a rising star in Hollywood. She went on to star in several notable films, including "Cheaper by the Dozen" (2003) and its sequel, "The Prestige" (2006), and "Looper" (2012).

Her performance in the USA Network spy drama series "Covert Affairs" (2010-2014) earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama.

Piper Perabo is also an activist, working with the International Rescue Committee to raise awareness about the world's refugee crisis. She is married to Stephen Kay, whom she met while working on "Covert Affairs," and they have a daughter named Lilli.