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Rachel Ward

Rachel Ward

Known for ActingBorn 1957-09-12 (age 68)Cornwell Manor, Cornwell, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, UK
Rachel Claire Ward (born September 12, 1957) is an English-Australian actress, film and television director, screenwriter, and former model who has primarily pursued her career in Australia. During her modelling career, she was featured on the covers of Vogue, Harper's & Queen, and Cosmopolitan magazines. After moving to the United States in 1977, she appeared in television advertisements such as the Lincoln Mercury "Cougar Girl" and Revlon's "Scoundrel Girl". In 1981, she received a Golden Globe Award nomination for "New Star of the Year" for her role in the film Sharky's Machine starring with Burt Reynolds. The following year, she starred in Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid with Steve Martin. Her big break came in 1983, when she starred opposite Richard Chamberlain as the lead role portraying Meggie Cleary in the television miniseries The Thorn Birds, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film. Also in 1983, U.S. audiences voted Ward one of the world's 10 most beautiful women. In 1984, she played Jess in the film noir remake Against All Odds, with Jeff Bridges. After filming Fortress in 1985, she then disappeared from film for a few years to study acting. In 2001, she was again nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film for her role in On the Beach (2000). Also in 2001, she won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Short Fiction Film for The Big House, and Best Australian Film at Flickerfest. The film also won the Film Critics Circle of Australia award, as did her 2003 film Martha's New Coat — which also won the 2003 ATOM Award. In 2005, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia "for service to raising awareness of social justice through lobbying, mentoring and advocacy for the rights of disadvantaged and at-risk young people, and support for the Australian film and television industry". In 2009, she directed her first feature-length film titled Beautiful Kate, adapted by Ward from a 1982 Newton Thornburg novel, and premiered at the Sydney Film Festival. She has been married to the Australian actor Bryan Brown since 1983. They have three children: Rosie, Matilda, and Joe. Matilda Brown is an actress, writer and director.Read more

Movies & web series

Whale Shark Jack10.0
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Whale Shark Jack

2026 · Movie

On the Beach10.0
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On the Beach

2000 · Series

Monarch Cove
9.5
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Monarch Cove

2006 · Series

Shadow of the Cobra8.5
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Shadow of the Cobra

1989 · Movie

Seasons of Love8.0
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Seasons of Love

1999 · Series

Twisted8.0
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Twisted

1997 · Movie

Twisted Tales8.0
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Twisted Tales

1996 · Series

The Death and Life of Otto Bloom7.4
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The Death and Life of Otto Bloom

2017 · Movie

The Thorn Birds7.2
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The Thorn Birds

1983 · Series

And Never Let Her Go7.0
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And Never Let Her Go

2001 · Series

Peter Rabbit6.7
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Peter Rabbit

2018 · Movie

Two Twisted6.8
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Two Twisted

2006 · Series

Fortress6.9
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Fortress

1985 · Movie

And Never Let Her Go6.7
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And Never Let Her Go

2001 · Movie

Rachel's Farm6.3
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Rachel's Farm

2023 · Movie

Martha's New Coat
6.5
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Martha's New Coat

2003 · Movie

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid6.7
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Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

1982 · Movie

The Ascent6.4
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The Ascent

1994 · Movie

Dynasty6.5
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Dynasty

1981 · Series

The Straits6.2
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The Straits

2012 · Series

Darby and Joan6.1
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Darby and Joan

2022 · Series

On the Beach6.2
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On the Beach

2000 · Movie

How to Get Ahead in Advertising6.3
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How to Get Ahead in Advertising

1989 · Movie

And the Sea Will Tell6.3
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And the Sea Will Tell

1991 · Movie

Sharky's Machine6.2
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Sharky's Machine

1981 · Movie

An Accidental Soldier5.7
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An Accidental Soldier

2013 · Movie

Christmas Lilies of the Field6.0
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Christmas Lilies of the Field

1979 · Movie

Beautiful Kate5.7
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Beautiful Kate

2009 · Movie

The Last Impresario5.5
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The Last Impresario

2014 · Movie

After Dark, My Sweet5.7
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After Dark, My Sweet

1990 · Movie

Rain Shadow5.5
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Rain Shadow

2007 · Series

Against All Odds5.7
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Against All Odds

1984 · Movie

Blackbeard5.5
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Blackbeard

2006 · Series

Night School5.7
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Night School

1981 · Movie

Palm Beach5.3
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Palm Beach

2019 · Movie

Johnson County War5.5
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Johnson County War

2002 · Movie

Hotel Colonial5.4
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Hotel Colonial

1987 · Movie

Double Jeopardy5.2
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Double Jeopardy

1992 · Movie

The Good Wife5.1
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The Good Wife

1987 · Movie

The Final Terror5.1
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The Final Terror

1983 · Movie

Wide Sargasso Sea4.9
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Wide Sargasso Sea

1993 · Movie

Christopher Columbus: The Discovery4.8
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Christopher Columbus: The Discovery

1992 · Movie

Double Obsession4.8
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Double Obsession

1992 · Movie

Bobbie's Girl4.4
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Bobbie's Girl

2002 · Movie

Black Magic4.1
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Black Magic

1992 · Movie

The Big House3.6
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The Big House

2001 · Movie

My Stepson, My Lover3.6
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My Stepson, My Lover

1997 · Movie

A Bite to Eat with Alice
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A Bite to Eat with Alice

2024 · Series