Rachel Ward facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rachel Ward AM
Ward in 2012
Born	Rachel Claire Ward (1957-09-12) 12 September 1957 (age 67) Cornwell, Oxfordshire, England
Nationality	English
Occupation	Actress film director screenwriter television director
Years active	1979–present
Spouse(s)	Bryan Brown ​ (m. 1983)​
Children	3, including Matilda Brown
Relatives	Tracy, Duchess of Beaufort (sister)

Rachel Claire Ward (born on September 12, 1957) is an English-Australian actress, director, and filmmaker. She is known for her roles in movies and TV shows, and also for directing her own films.

Early Life and Beginnings

Rachel Ward was born in Oxfordshire, England. Her parents were Claire Leonora and Peter Alistair Ward. She is also the great-granddaughter of William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley, who was the Governor-General of Australia from 1908 to 1911. Her sister, Tracy Louise Ward, is an environmental activist.

Rachel went to Hatherop Castle School and then the Byam Shaw School of Art. At 16, she left school to become a fashion model. She appeared on the covers of famous magazines like Vogue and Cosmopolitan.

Rachel Ward's Acting Career

After moving to the United States in 1977, Rachel started appearing in TV commercials. Her acting career began in 1981.

Early Film Roles

In 1981, Rachel was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for "New Star of the Year" for her role in the film Sharky's Machine. She starred alongside Burt Reynolds in this movie. The next year, she acted with Steve Martin in Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid.

Breakthrough with The Thorn Birds

Rachel's biggest role came in 1983. She played Meggie Cleary in the TV miniseries The Thorn Birds. For this role, she was nominated for another Golden Globe Award. Many people thought she did a great job in this series. In 1983, people in the U.S. even voted her one of the world's 10 most beautiful women.

Later Acting Work

In 1984, she starred with Jeff Bridges in the film Against All Odds. After filming Fortress in 1985, Rachel took a break from movies to study acting more.

She returned to acting in 1987, starring with her husband, Bryan Brown, in The Umbrella Woman. In 2001, she received another Golden Globe nomination for her role in the TV movie On the Beach.

In 2006, Rachel acted in the miniseries Blackbeard. In 2007, she returned to Australian TV in the drama Rain Shadow. She played a country veterinarian named Kate McDonald.

Rachel Ward as a Director and Filmmaker

Besides acting, Rachel Ward is also a talented director and screenwriter.

Award-Winning Short Films

In 2001, Rachel won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Short Fiction Film for her movie The Big House. This film also won Best Australian Film at Flickerfest. Her 2003 film, Martha's New Coat, also won awards, including the Film Critics Circle of Australia award.

Feature Film Directing

In 2009, Rachel directed her first full-length movie, Beautiful Kate. She wrote the script for this film, which was based on a novel. It was shown for the first time at the Sydney Film Festival. In 2019, she directed another feature film called Palm Beach.

In 2023, Rachel directed a documentary film called Rachel's Farm. This film is about her efforts to make her Australian farm more sustainable and healthy for the environment.

Personal Life

Rachel Ward married Australian actor Bryan Brown in 1983. They met while working on The Thorn Birds. They have three children named Rosie, Matilda, and Joe.

Performances and Works

Film Roles

Films Directed by Rachel Ward

Television Roles

Television Directed by Rachel Ward

Theatre Work

See also

In Spanish: Rachel Ward para niños