Rachael Leigh Cook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rachael Leigh Cook
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Cook in 2024
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| Born | October 4, 1979 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
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| Years active | 1995–present |
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| Children | 2 |
Rachael Leigh Cook (born October 4, 1979) is an American actress and model. She is famous for her roles in popular movies like The Baby-Sitters Club (1995), She's All That (1999), and Josie and the Pussycats (2001).
You might also know her from the TV series Perception or as the voice of Tifa Lockhart in the Final Fantasy video game series. Since 2016, she has starred in many popular movies for the Hallmark Channel.
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Early Life and First Steps in Acting
Rachael Leigh Cook was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her dad, Thomas Howard Cook, was a social worker and used to be a stand-up comedian. Her mom, JoAnn, taught cooking and was a weaver. Rachael has some Italian family background.
When she was seven, Cook appeared in a public service announcement (a short ad for a good cause) about foster care. At age 10, she started working as a child model. She appeared in ads for stores like Target and even on boxes of Milk-Bone dog biscuits. She went to Clara Barton Open School, Laurel Springs School, and Minneapolis South High School.
Career Highlights
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Breakthrough Movie Roles
In 1999, Cook became a star after playing Laney Boggs in the hit teen romantic comedy She's All That. This movie was a huge success and remains one of her most famous roles.
Two years later, in 2001, she starred as the lead singer in Josie and the Pussycats. While the movie wasn't a big hit at first, it has since become a cult classic, loved by many fans for its music and style.
Over the years, she has appeared in many other films, including the adventure movie Tom and Huck and the mystery film Nancy Drew.
Television and Voice Acting
Cook has also had a successful career in television. From 2012 to 2015, she starred as FBI agent Kate Moretti in the crime drama series Perception. She also had a recurring role as Abigail Lytar in the popular detective comedy Psych.
Many fans know her for her voice work. She has voiced many characters on the animated comedy show Robot Chicken. Her most famous voice role is Tifa Lockhart in the Final Fantasy series, including the movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and several video games. She also voiced a character in the video game Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Hallmark Movies and Producing
Since 2016, Cook has become a familiar face on the Hallmark Channel, starring in many of their original movies. Some of her popular Hallmark films include Autumn in the Vineyard and Frozen in Love.
Cook also has her own production company called Ben's Sister Productions. In 2020, she produced and starred in the Netflix movie Love, Guaranteed.
Public Service and Charity Work
..... In 2017, she appeared in a new version of the ad to talk about how drug policies have affected communities.
In 2011, the Obama administration honored her as a "Champion of Change" for her support of arts education. She also started a scholarship in 2012 to help students aged 14 to 19 pay for career classes and school programs.
Personal Life
Cook married actor Daniel Gillies in 2004. They have two children together, a daughter born in 2013 and a son born in 2015. The couple announced their separation in 2019 and their divorce was finalized in 2021.
Selected Filmography
Movies
- The Baby-Sitters Club (1995) as Mary Anne Spier
- Tom and Huck (1995) as Becky Thatcher
- She's All That (1999) as Laney Boggs
- Get Carter (2000) as Doreen Carter
- Josie and the Pussycats (2001) as Josie McCoy
- Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005) as Tifa Lockhart (voice)
- Nancy Drew (2007) as Jane Brighton
- Love, Guaranteed (2020) as Susan (also producer)
- He's All That (2021) as Anna Sawyer
- A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023) as Amanda Riley (also producer)
Television
- Dawson's Creek (1999) as Devon (3 episodes)
- Into the West (2005) as Clara Wheeler
- Psych (2008–2010) as Abigail Lytar (recurring role)
- Perception (2012–2015) as Kate Moretti (main role)
- Robot Chicken (2006–2019) as various characters (voice)
- Criminal Minds (2020) as Maxine (2 episodes)
See also
In Spanish: Rachael Leigh Cook para niños
