Lorraine Toussaint (born April 4, 1960 in Trinidad, West Indies) is a television actress best known for playing assistant medical examiner Elaine Duchamps on the television drama Crossing Jordan. Before taking the role, Toussaint was a featured guest-star on the drama Law & Order, as Shambala Green, a foil to Michael Moriarty's Ben Stone, and later to Sam Waterston's Jack McCoy. Toussaint also starred alongside Annie Potts in the four year Lifetime drama Any Day Now. She also played the role of "Almond Joy" in the movie Hudson Hawk. As of 2007 she began a recurring stint on Ugly Betty, where she plays prison inmate Yoga, who befriends Claire Meade (played by Judith Light) at a correctional institute. In the season finale the two team up and make an escape en route to prison.

Toussaint was also a regular guest on the drama Threat Matrix, as Carina Wright/Agent Cassandra Hodges.

In 1993, Toussaint played a role of Beth in Point Of No Return starring Bridget Fonda.

Toussaint graduated from Manhattan's School of Performing Arts in 1978, before going on to graduate from Juilliard Drama School.

Studied drama at The Juilliard School, New York, NY, USA.

Is an aficionado of architecture, and an expert gardener and landscaper.

Born in Trinidad, but moved to Brooklyn, New York, USA, with her family when she was ten years old.

Has a dog named Kaia.

Lorraine had to care for her mother, Janet Beane, who had multiple sclerosis while she was studying acting. Her mother passed away in 1999.