Stephanie Caroline March Benton (born July 23, 1974) is an American actress. She is known for starring as Alexandra Cabot in the crime drama franchise Law & Order, which she played in the NBC series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2000–2019) and reprised in other media. The role earned her a nomination for the Satellite Award for Best Television Series – Drama. March has appeared in the films Head of State (2003), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Falling for Grace (2006), The Treatment (2006) and Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006). Following a period of sporadic work, March executive produced and starred in the comedy independent film The Social Ones (2019). She played Akira on the superhero series Naomi (2022). Early life March was born in Dallas, Texas, the daughter of John and Laura March, and has a sister, Charlotte. She attended McCulloch Middle School in Highland Park, and Highland Park High School, where Law & Orders Angie Harmon, who also played the role of an assistant district attorney on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, attended concurrently. After her parents' divorce, her mother married Robert Derby. In 1996, March graduated from Northwestern University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Career Acting beginnings and Law & Order universe At Northwestern University, March played Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream in Chicago, where she continued to pursue her stage career. In 1997, she made her screen debut in an episode of the CBS series Early Edition. In 1999, March moved to New York and made her Broadway debut in a production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman with Brian Dennehy. She later co-starred in the television film based on the play. March is best known for her role as Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot on the NBC crime legal drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, who she played as a main character from 2000 to 2003, and reprised in recurring appearances on the show until 2018. The character of Cabot and March's work has earned widespread acclaim, and is often considered one of the best characters and acting performances in the Law & Order franchise. In 2003, at the 8th Golden Satellite Awards, she and her Law & Order: Special Victims Unit co-stars were nominated for the Satellite Award for Best Television Series – Drama. March additionally reprised her role as Cabot, now the