Rachel Brosnahan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rachel Brosnahan
Brosnahan on the set of Superman in 2024
Born	(1990-07-12) July 12, 1990 (age 35) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Alma mater	New York University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2007–present
Spouse(s)	Jason Ralph ​ (m. 2016)​
Relatives	Kate Spade (aunt) Andy Spade (uncle)

Rachel Brosnahan (born July 12, 1990) is an American actress. She is famous for playing Midge Maisel in the TV show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023). In this show, she played a woman who wanted to be a stand-up comedian. For her role, she won an Primetime Emmy Award in 2018 and two Golden Globe Awards in 2018 and 2019.

Rachel has also appeared in other TV series like House of Cards (2013–2015) and Manhattan (2014–2015). She has acted in movies such as Beautiful Creatures (2013) and The Finest Hours (2016). In 2025, she played Lois Lane in the superhero movie Superman.

On stage, Rachel has performed on Broadway. She was in the play The Big Knife in 2013. She also played Desdemona in a 2016 production of Othello.

Early Life and Education

Rachel Brosnahan was born on July 12, 1990, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her parents are Carol and Earl Brosnahan. Her mother is British, and her father is American with Irish family. From the age of four, Rachel grew up in Highland Park, Illinois. She has a younger brother and sister.

She went to Wayne Thomas Elementary School and Northwood Junior High School. Rachel enjoyed performing in musical theater during junior high and high school. At Highland Park High School, she was part of the wrestling team for two years. She also worked as a snowboarding instructor. When she was 16, she took an acting class with Carole Dibo, who later became her manager. Rachel graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 2012.

Acting Career

Early Roles (2007–2012)

While still in high school, Rachel got her first movie role. She played Lisa in the horror film The Unborn (2009). During college, she appeared in single episodes of TV shows. These included Gossip Girl, The Good Wife, and Grey's Anatomy. After college, she started getting regular roles in series. These included the crime thriller The Blacklist (2014).

Rachel first performed on stage in 2009 in a play called Up. Her first Broadway show was The Big Knife in 2013. In 2016, she played Desdemona in Othello alongside David Oyelowo and Daniel Craig.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2013–2020)

In 2013, Rachel starred as Rachel Posner in the Netflix drama House of Cards. She was only supposed to be in two episodes at first. However, the show's creator liked her performance. Her role was made much bigger. This role helped her become more well-known. She was even nominated for an Primetime Emmy Award for her work. In 2016, she appeared in Woody Allen's Amazon series Crisis in Six Scenes.

Cast members and producers of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in 2018

Starting in 2017, Rachel played the main character in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She played Miriam "Midge" Maisel, a 1950s housewife. Midge decides to become a stand-up comedian after her marriage ends. Rachel has said that knowing about Jewish culture helped her prepare for the role. Her acting in this show has won her many awards. These include a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards.

In 2019, Rachel started her own production company called Scrap Paper Pictures.

Recent Films and Broadway (2020–Present)

Brosnahan (right) with co-star David Corenswet at the premiere of Superman in Manila (2025)

Rachel appeared in the drama film The Courier in January 2020. In December 2020, Amazon released I'm Your Woman. Rachel starred in and also produced this movie. In 2022, she was in the western film Dead for a Dollar.

In 2023, she starred in a new version of the play The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window. She performed alongside Oscar Isaac. She received good reviews for her performance.

In 2025, Rachel Brosnahan played Lois Lane in the superhero film Superman. This movie was directed by James Gunn. She also played a detective's wife in the action thriller The Amateur. It was also announced that she would star in and produce the Apple TV+ crime drama series Presumed Innocent.

Personal Life

In 2018, it was reported that Rachel had married actor Jason Ralph. However, she later shared in January 2019 that they had been married for "years" before it became public. They both attended the 76th Golden Globe Awards in 2019. Rachel thanked him during her award speech.

Rachel Brosnahan is the niece of handbag designer Kate Spade. Kate Spade was married to Andy Spade, who is the older brother of actor David Spade.

Acting Credits

Film Roles

Television Roles

Theatre Roles

Awards and Nominations

Rachel Brosnahan has won many awards for her acting. Here are some of her most notable awards:

• Primetime Emmy Award: She won for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2018 for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
• Golden Globe Awards: She won Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Series in 2018 and 2019 for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
• Screen Actors Guild Awards: She won for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series in 2019 for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She also won for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series with her castmates in 2019 and 2020.
• Critics' Choice Television Awards: She won Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 2018 and 2019 for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

See also

In Spanish: Rachel Brosnahan para niños