Rachel Nichols (actress) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rachel Nichols
Nichols in 2012
Born	1979/1980 (age 45–46) Augusta, Maine, U.S.
Other names	Rachel Kershaw
Alma mater	Columbia University
Occupation	Actress, model
Years active	2000–present
Spouse(s)	Scott Stuber ​ ​ (m. 2008; div. 2009)​ Michael Kershaw ​ (m. 2014)​

Rachel Nichols (born April 24, 1980) is an American actress and model. She started her career as a model while studying at Columbia University in New York City. By the early 2000s, she began acting.

Rachel Nichols became well-known for her roles in TV shows like Alias (2005–2006) and Criminal Minds (2010–2011). She also starred in the science-fiction series Continuum from 2012 to 2015. In movies, she is known for The Amityville Horror (2005), Star Trek (2009), and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009).

Early Life and Education

Rachel Nichols was born in Augusta, Maine. Her parents are Jim, a schoolteacher, and Alison Nichols. She went to Cony High School, where she was good at the high jump.

After high school, in 1998, she went to Columbia University in New York City. She planned to work in finance. While at college, a modeling agent discovered her. She started modeling in Paris and used the money to pay for her studies. She worked for famous brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Guess, and L'Oréal. She also hosted some shows for MTV. Rachel Nichols studied economics, psychology, and drama. She graduated from Columbia in 2003 with degrees in mathematics and economics.

Acting Career

Starting Out (2000–2004)

Rachel Nichols first appeared as a model in the movie Autumn in New York (2000). She then had a small role in the TV show ... and the City (2002). She enjoyed acting so much that she decided to pursue it more seriously.

Her first big movie role was in the comedy Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003). She played Jessica, a student reporter. She learned a lot while making this film. The next year, she acted in the independent film Debating Robert Lee (2004). She also had a two-episode role in the TV show Line of Fire (2004).

In 2005, Rachel Nichols got a main role in the TV series The Inside. She played Rebecca Locke, a new FBI agent. The show was about a special FBI unit that solved violent crimes.

Becoming Well-Known (2005–2009)

After The Inside, Rachel Nichols joined the TV series Alias in 2005. She played Rachel Gibson, a computer expert who thought she was working for the CIA. She later found out she was working for a criminal group. Rachel Gibson then joined the real CIA and became a student of the main character, Sydney Bristow. Rachel enjoyed working on Alias and learned a lot about fight scenes.

In 2005, she had a role in the horror movie The Amityville Horror. She was nominated for a Teen Choice Award and an MTV Movie Award for her performance. The movie was popular even though critics didn't like it much.

Her first main role in a movie was in the thriller P2 (2007). She played a businesswoman trapped in a parking garage. She also had a small part in the drama Resurrecting the Champ (2007) and the political drama Charlie Wilson's War (2007).

Nichols at a premiere for G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, July 2009

In 2008, Rachel Nichols had a supporting role in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. She played a friend who was a bit jealous. The movie was well-liked by critics.

She was cast in Star Trek (2009) as an Orion cadet. She also played Shana "Scarlett" O'Hara in the action movie G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009). She trained in mixed martial arts and gained muscle for the role. This movie was also very popular at the box office.

Later Roles (2010s and Beyond)

In 2010, Rachel Nichols starred in the crime drama Meskada. She played a police detective. In 2011, she was in the fantasy film Conan the Barbarian. She played a priestess and a martial arts expert. She did her own stunts for the action scenes.

Rachel Nichols joined the TV series Criminal Minds in 2010. She played Ashley Seaver, an FBI cadet. She then starred in the independent romantic comedy A Bird of the Air (2011).

From 2012 to 2015, Rachel Nichols starred in the Canadian science fiction TV series Continuum. She played Kiera Cameron, a police officer from the future who travels back in time. This show was very successful and earned her awards nominations. In 2012, she also appeared in the thriller Alex Cross.

In 2013, she was an executive producer and actress in the movie Raze. She played Jamie, one of several women forced to fight each other. She liked the movie's message about women's strength. She also starred with Nicolas Cage in the action thriller Rage (2014).

In 2015, she had a recurring role in the TV series Chicago Fire. In 2016, she starred in the science-fiction thriller Pandemic. She played a doctor trying to find survivors after a worldwide illness. She also starred in Inside (2016), a thriller about a pregnant woman.

From 2017 to 2018, Rachel Nichols had a recurring role in the fantasy series The Librarians. In 2019, she appeared in five episodes of The Man in the High Castle. She played a character named Martha.

Personal Life

Rachel Nichols married film producer Scott Stuber on July 26, 2008. They separated in February 2009.

On December 30, 2013, Rachel Nichols announced her engagement to Michael Kershaw, a real estate developer. They got married in September 2014.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Rachel Nichols para niños