Rachel Ward facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rachel Ward
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Ward in 2012
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Rachel Claire Ward
12 September 1957 Cornwell, Oxfordshire, England
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| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 3, including Matilda Brown |
| Relatives | Tracy, Duchess of Beaufort (sister) |
Rachel Claire Ward (born on September 12, 1957) is an English-Australian actress, film director, screenwriter, and television director. She is known for her roles in movies and TV shows, and for directing her own films.
Contents
Early Life and Start
Rachel Ward was born in Oxfordshire, England. Her father was the Hon. Peter Alistair Ward. Her grandfathers included William Ward, 3rd Earl of Dudley and the cricketer Giles Baring. She is also related to William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley, who was a Governor-General of Australia. Her sister, Tracy Louise Ward, is an environmental campaigner.
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.
Career Highlights
After moving to the United States in 1977, Rachel appeared in TV ads. In 1981, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her role in the film Sharky's Machine. The next year, she starred with Steve Martin in Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid.
Her biggest role came in 1983. She played Meggie Cleary in the TV miniseries The Thorn Birds. For this role, she was again nominated for a Golden Globe Award. Many people in the U.S. also voted her one of the world's 10 most beautiful women that year. In 1984, she starred with Jeff Bridges in the movie Against All Odds. After filming Fortress in 1985, she took a break to study acting.
Rachel returned to acting in 1987. She starred with her husband, Bryan Brown, in The Umbrella Woman. They had met while filming The Thorn Birds. In 2001, she received another Golden Globe nomination for her role in On the Beach.
Directing and Awards
Rachel Ward also became a successful director. In 2001, she won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Short Fiction Film for The Big House. This film also won Best Australian Film at Flickerfest. Her 2003 film, Martha's New Coat, also won awards.
In 2005, Rachel was made a Member of the Order of Australia. This honor was for her work in raising awareness about social justice. It also recognized her support for the Australian film and television industry.
In 2007, Rachel returned to TV acting in the drama Rain Shadow. She played a country veterinarian. In 2009, she directed her first full-length movie, Beautiful Kate. This film premiered at the Sydney Film Festival.
Personal Life
Rachel Ward married Australian actor Bryan Brown in 1983. They have three children: Rosie, Matilda, and Joe.
Filmography
Acting Roles
- 1981: Night School as Eleanor Adjai
- 1981: Sharky's Machine as Dominoe Brittain
- 1982: Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid as Juliet Forrest
- 1983: The Final Terror as Margaret
- 1984: Against All Odds as Jessie Wyler
- 1987: Hotel Colonial as Irene Costa
- 1987: The Umbrella Woman as Marge Hills
- 1989: How to Get Ahead in Advertising as Julia Bagley
- 1990: After Dark, My Sweet as Fay Anderson
- 1992: Christopher Columbus: The Discovery as Isabella I of Castile
- 1993: Wide Sargasso Sea as Annette Cosway
- 2016: The Death and Life of Otto Bloom as Dr. Ada Fitzgerald
- 2018: Peter Rabbit as Josephine Rabbit (Voice role)
Directing and Writing Roles
- 2000: Blindman's Bluff (Short film) - Director, Writer
- 2001: The Big House (Short film) - Director, Writer
- 2003: Martha's New Coat (Feature film) - Director
- 2009: Beautiful Kate (Feature film) - Director, Writer
- 2019: Palm Beach (Feature film) - Director, Writer
Television Work
Acting Roles
- 1981: Dynasty as Edna Macready (1 episode)
- 1983: The Thorn Birds as Meggie Cleary (Miniseries)
- 1985: Fortress as Sally Jones (TV movie)
- 1989: Shadow of the Cobra as Chris Royston (Miniseries)
- 2000: On the Beach as Moira Davidson (TV movie)
- 2006: Blackbeard as Sally Dunbar (Miniseries)
- 2007: Rain Shadow as Kate McDonald (6 episodes)
- 2022: Darby and Joan as English Sat Nav (1 episode)
Directing Roles
- 2006: Two Twisted (Episode "Heart Attack")
- 2010: Rake (2 episodes)
- 2011: My Place (3 episodes)
- 2013: An Accidental Soldier (TV movie)
- 2014: Devil's Playground (3 episodes)
Theatre
- How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989)
- Hopping to Byzantium (1990)
- The Piccadilly Bushman (1998)
Images for kids
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Rachel Ward in 2012
See also
In Spanish: Rachel Ward para niños
