Elizabeth Hess

Elizabeth Hess, born on July seventeenth, nineteen fifty-three, is a distinguished Canadian-American actress, playwright, director, and arts educator. With a career that spans television, theater, and film, she has made a significant impact in the performing arts.

Hess is perhaps best known for her role as Janet Darling, the mother in the beloved American sitcom 'Clarissa Explains It All.' Her television credits also include several appearances on the iconic series 'Law & Order,' showcasing her versatility as an actress.

Her extensive acting resume features work both on and off-Broadway, as well as in regional theater and independent films. Notably, she portrayed Renee in the Tony Award-winning production of 'M. Butterfly,' further solidifying her reputation in the theater community.

Trained at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and under the guidance of esteemed acting coach Harold Guskin, Hess has also dedicated herself to teaching. She has imparted her knowledge and experience at prestigious institutions such as New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Fordham University, and the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center/National Theater Institute.