Jennifer Leann Carpenter (born 7 December 1979) is an American film actress.

Carpenter was born in Louisville, Kentucky and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville. She trained at the Walden Theatre Conservatory in Louisville, later the Juilliard School in New York City. Already before graduation she was cast in the Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's The Crucible starring Liam Neeson and Laura Linney. Carpenter currently plays the role of Debra Morgan in the Showtime television series Dexter which premiered 1 October 2006.

She took home the 2006 MTV Movie Award for 'Best Frightened Performance.' for her role in The Exorcism of Emily Rose. She also received a Hollywood Life Breakthrough Award.