Rachael Leigh Cook
Rachael Leigh Cook | |
---|---|
![]() Cook at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2019 | |
Born | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | October 4, 1979
Occupation | Actress, model |
Years active | 1995–present |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | 2 |
Rachael Leigh Cook (born October 4, 1979) is an American actress and model. She has starred in the films The Baby-Sitters Club (1995), She's All That (1999), and Josie and the Pussycats (2001), and in the television series Into the West and Perception. She is also the voice behind various characters in Robot Chicken and Tifa Lockhart in the Final Fantasy series, starting with the English version of the film Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.
Early life[]
Rachael Leigh Cook was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of JoAnn, a cooking instructor and weaver, and Thomas H. Cook, a social worker and former stand-up comedian.[1] She is of part-Italian descent. Cook first appeared in a public service announcement for foster care at seven years of age, and began working as a child print model at the age of 10, most notably in nationwide advertisements for Target and appearing on the boxes of Milk-Bone dog biscuits. She attended Clara Barton Open School, Laurel Springs School, and Minneapolis South High School.
Career[]
Cook began auditioning for acting work at the age of 14.[1] She made her screen debut as an actress in the 1995 film The Baby-Sitters Club. She also played a role in the adventure film Tom and Huck released in December 1995. In 1996, her modeling agency sent her to star in a short film, 26 Summer Street. In 1997, Cook appeared in a leading role in the film Country Justice as a 15-year-old rape victim who is impregnated by her rapist.
In 1999, Cook starred in her breakout role in the sleeper hit film She's All That,[2] a romantic comedy that so far is the most financially successful film of her career. In 2000 she starred opposite Elijah Wood in the well-received The Bumblebee Flies Anyway. She took the lead role in 2001's Josie and the Pussycats, which turned out to be a box office failure, although it has since become a cult classic.
In 2000, she was the cover girl for the U.S. March/April issue of FHM. She also starred in the music video for New Found Glory's 2000 single "Dressed to Kill" and singer Daniel Powter's "Love You Lately". In 2002, she was ranked No. 26 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World". In 2003, she starred in the film 11:14 as Cheri. She also appeared as a main cast member in the 2005 television miniseries Into the West produced by Steven Spielberg.
In 2007, Cook was seen in the big screen adaptation of Nancy Drew. She played the female lead in the independent sports drama The Final Season. She has appeared in numerous episodes of the Seth Green comedies Titan Maximum and Robot Chicken. In 2008, she guest-starred in an episode of the USA Network series Psych as Abigail Lytar. She reprised the role in the following season.
In February 2010, Cook signed on to play the female lead role in Fox TV's comedy pilot Nirvana.[3] She had a role in the Western horror film Vampire, the English-language feature debut of Japanese director Iwai Shunji.[4] In 2012, Cook signed on to play the female lead role in the TNT crime drama series Perception opposite Eric McCormack. She starred in the independent film Broken Kingdom, which was directed by her husband Daniel Gillies. She also appeared in a Funny or Die sketch with Chad Michael Murray.[5][6]
Cook starred in the Hallmark Channel original film Summer Love in 2016.[7] In the same year, she starred in another Hallmark film, Autumn In the Vineyard, followed by its sequel Summer in the Vineyard in 2017.[8] 2017 also saw Cook develop, star and executive produce the Hallmark Channel film Frozen in Love, which was broadcast in January 2018 as part of the channel's 'Winterfest' season of programming.[9][10]
Cook provided the voice for Chelsea Cunningham on the Kids' WB animated series Batman Beyond and in the animated film Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. Cook voiced Tifa Lockhart in the video games Kingdom Hearts II, Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII and Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, as well as the CG movie Final Fantasy VII Advent Children. In 2011, she voiced the character of Jaesa Willsaam in the MMO game, Star Wars: The Old Republic. Cook's latest voice-over role is for the video game Yakuza in which she voices the role of Reina. In 2020 Cook appeared in the fifteenth season of Criminal Minds playing the role of Max in the final episodes of the series.[11]
Cook owns her own production company, Ben's Sister Productions (in reference to her younger brother Ben Cook, an aspiring filmmaker). She produced and starred in the film Love, Guaranteed which debuted on Netflix on September 3, 2020.[12]
Public service[]
Cook first gained national attention in 1997, when she was featured in the famous This Is Your Brain on Drugs PSA television advertisement, in which she proceeds to destroy a kitchen with a frying pan.
In 2011, she was selected by the Obama administration as a Champion of Change for Arts Education.[13]
In June 2012, she began to award a small scholarship to students between ages 14 and 19. The scholarship helps pay for career classes, mentoring programs, and other school fees.[1]
In 2017, Rachael Leigh Cook reprised her "This Is Your Brain on Drugs" role twenty years later for a PSA by the Drug Policy Alliance critiquing the War on Drugs and its contribution to mass incarceration, structural racism and poverty. The ad was posted to YouTube on April 20, 2017, in recognition of 4/20.[14]
Personal life[]
Cook married actor Daniel Gillies on August 8, 2004,[15] whom she dated since 2001.[16] They have two children: a daughter born September 2013[17] and a son born April 2015.[18] The couple announced their separation in June 2019,[19] and Gillies filed for divorce a year later.[20] Their divorce was finalized on March 10, 2021.[21]
Filmography[]
Film[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | The Baby-Sitters Club | Mary Anne Spier | |
1995 | Tom and Huck | Becky Thatcher | |
1996 | Carpool | Kayla | |
1997 | The House of Yes | Young 'Jackie-O' | |
1997 | The Eighteenth Angel | Lucy Stanton | |
1998 | All I Wanna Do | Abigail 'Abby' Sawyer | |
1998 | The Naked Man | Dolores | |
1998 | Living Out Loud | Teenage Judith Moore | |
1999 | The Hi-Line | Vera Johnson | |
1999 | She's All That | Laney Boggs | |
1999 | The Bumblebee Flies Anyway | Cassie | |
2000 | Sally | Beth | |
2000 | Get Carter | Doreen Carter | |
2000 | Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker | Chelsea Cunningham | Voice role; direct-to-video film |
2001 | Antitrust | Lisa Calighan | |
2001 | Blow Dry | Christina Robertson | |
2001 | Texas Rangers | Caroline Dukes | |
2001 | Josie and the Pussycats | Josie McCoy | |
2001 | Tangled | Jenny Kelley | |
2002 | 29 Palms | The Waitress | |
2003 | Bookies | Hunter | |
2003 | Scorched | Shmally | |
2003 | The Big Empty | Ruthie | |
2003 | 11:14 | Cheri | |
2003 | Tempo | Jenny Travile | |
2004 | Stateside | Dori Lawrence | |
2004 | American Crime | Jesse St. Claire | Direct-to-video film |
2005 | Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children | Tifa Lockhart | Voice role |
2006 | My First Wedding | Vanessa | Direct-to-video film |
2007 | Descent | Allison | Direct-to-video film |
2007 | All Hat | Chrissie Nugent | Direct-to-video film |
2007 | Nancy Drew | Jane Brighton | |
2007 | The Final Season | Polly Hudson | |
2007 | Blonde Ambition | Haley | |
2009 | The Lodger | Amanda Manning | Direct-to-video film |
2009 | Bob Funk | Ms. Thorne | Direct-to-video film |
2009 | Falling Up | Caitlin O'Shea | Direct-to-video film |
2011 | Vampire | Laura King | Direct-to-video film |
2011 | The Family Tree | Rachel Levy | Direct-to-video film |
2012 | Broken Kingdom | Marilyn | Direct-to-video film |
2014 | Red Sky | Karen Brooks | Direct-to-video film |
2017 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Hermia | [22][23] |
2020 | Love, Guaranteed | Susan | Direct-to-streaming film; also producer[12] |
2021 | He's All That | Anna Sawyer | Direct-to-streaming film |
Television[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Country Justice | Emma Baker | Television film |
1997 | True Women | Young Georgia Lawshe | Television miniseries |
1997 | The Defenders: Payback | Tracey Lane | Television film |
1998 | The Outer Limits | Cassie Boussard | Episode: "Glyphic" |
1999 | Dawson's Creek | Devon | 3 episodes |
2000 | Batman Beyond | Chelsea Cunningham | Voice role; 2 episodes |
2004 | Fearless | Gaia Moore | Unsold television pilot |
2005 | Into the West | Clara Wheeler | Television miniseries |
2005 | Las Vegas | Penny Posin | Recurring role |
2006–2019 | Robot Chicken | various | Recurring voice role |
2008 | Ghost Whisperer | Grace Adams | Episode: "Big Chills" |
2008–2010 | Psych | Abigail Lytar | Recurring role |
2009 | Titan Maximum | Lt. Jodi Yanarella | Main voice role |
2010 | Nevermind Nirvana | Elizabeth | Television film |
2011 | Stealing Paradise | Amanda Collier | Television film |
2012 | Left to Die | Tammi Chase | Television film |
2012–2015 | Perception | Kate Moretti | Main role |
2013 | Team Unicorn | Rachael Leigh Cook | Episode: "The UniCorps Wants You!" |
2014 | A Christmas Tail | N/A | Television film |
2016 | Summer Love | Maya Sulliway | Television film (Hallmark) |
2016 | Autumn in the Vineyard | Frankie Baldwin | Television film (Hallmark) |
2017 | Summer in the Vineyard | Frankie Baldwin | Television film (Hallmark) |
2018 | Frozen in Love | Mary Campbell | Television film (Hallmark) |
2019 | Valentine in the Vineyard | Frankie Baldwin | Television film (Hallmark) |
2019 | A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas | Willow Petersen | Television film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) |
2019 | Liza on Demand | Rachael Leigh Cook | Episodes: "New Year's Eve: Parts 1 & 2" |
2020 | Criminal Minds | Max | Episodes: "Saturday", "Date Night" |
2020 | Cross Country Christmas | Lina | Television film (Hallmark) |
2021 | Celebrity Wheel of Fortune | Rachael Leigh Cook | Episode |
Music videos[]
Year | Title | Artist |
---|---|---|
1999 | "Kiss Me" | Sixpence None The Richer |
2001 | "Dressed to Kill" | New Found Glory |
2006 | "Love You Lately" | Daniel Powter |
2017 | "Young Dumb & Broke" | Khalid |
Video games[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | Yakuza | Reina | |
2005 | Kingdom Hearts II | Tifa Lockhart | |
2006 | Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII | Tifa Lockhart | |
2007 | Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+ | Tifa Lockhart | |
2011 | Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy | Tifa Lockhart | |
2011 | Star Wars: The Old Republic | Jaesa Willsaam | |
2013 | Star Wars: The Old Republic - Rise of the Hutt Cartel | Jaesa Willsaam | |
2014 | Star Wars: The Old Republic - Shadow of Revan | Jaesa Willsaam | |
2016 | Final Fantasy Explorers | Tifa Lockhart | Archive audio[citation needed] |
2016 | World of Final Fantasy | Tifa Lockhart | |
2018 | Mobius Final Fantasy | Tifa Lockhart | Archive audio[citation needed] |
2019 | Dissidia Final Fantasy NT | Tifa Lockhart |
Awards and nominations[]
![]() | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (February 2020) |
Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1997 | Tom and Huck | YoungStar Award | Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy Film | Nominated |
1999 | She's All That | YoungStar Awards | Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy Film | Won |
MTV Movie Awards | Best Breakthrough Female Performance | Nominated | ||
Best On-Screen Duo (Shared with: Freddie Prinze Jr.) | Nominated | |||
Teen Choice Awards | Film – Sexiest Love Scene (Shared with: Freddie Prinze Jr.) | Won | ||
Dawson's Creek | Teen Choice Awards | TV – Breakout Performance | Nominated | |
2000 | The Hi-Line | Santa Monica Film Festival | Best Actress | Won |
She's All That | Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Movie Couple (Shared with: Freddie Prinze Jr.) | Won | |
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards | Favorite Actress – Newcomer (Internet Only) | Won | ||
Sally | New York International Independent Film & Video Festival | Best Actress | Won | |
2001 | Herself | Young Hollywood Awards | Superstar of Tomorrow – Female | Won |
Josie and the Pussycats | Teen Choice Awards | Film – Choice Actress | Nominated | |
2006 | Into the West | Western Heritage Awards | Television Feature Film (Shared with cast) | Won |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Stanton, Barry W. (March 2, 2016). "What Happened To Rachael Leigh Cook". The Gazette Review. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ Stern, Marlow (January 29, 2014). "'She's All That' 15th Anniversary: Cast and Crew Reminisce About the Making of the '90s Classic". The Daily Beast. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ "Rachael Leigh Cook Lands Lead in Fox's Nirvana". TV Guide.
- ^ "Western Actors to Meet Eastern Filmmaking Sensibilities in Vampire". Dread Central. September 17, 2012.
- ^ "First Kiss with Rachael Leigh Cook & Chad Michael Murray". Funnyordie.com. September 10, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
- ^ Funny Or Die (September 26, 2012). First Kiss with Rachael Leigh Cook & Chad Michael Murray. Retrieved August 13, 2017 – via YouTube.
- ^ Maloni, Joshua (August 11, 2016). "'She's (still) All That': Rachael Leigh Cook stars in new Hallmark Channel movie, 'Summer Love'". Niagara Frontier Publications. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
- ^ NBC New York (August 10, 2017). "Rachael Leigh Cook on "Summer in the Vineyard"". NBC. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
- ^ "Heart of the Mountain & Frozen in Love from Hallamrk's Winterfest start filming". What's Filming?. November 21, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ Hill, Ruth (November 6, 2017). "Interview with Rick Garman". My Devotional Thoughts. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ Hurley, Laura (February 20, 2019). "Criminal Minds Just Cast Reid's New Love Interest, But What About JJ?". CinemaBlend. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Yap, Audrey Cleo (September 1, 2020). "Rachael Leigh Cook on Producing Her Own Netflix Rom-Com, 21 Years After 'She's All That'". Variety. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ "Champions of Change: Arts Education". whitehouse.gov. Archived from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2017 – via National Archives.
- ^ "Watch Rachael Leigh Cook Remake 'Brain on Drugs' Ad for 4/20". Rolling Stone. April 20, 2017.
- ^ "Baby on the Way for Rachael Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies". People. May 8, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
- ^ "Rachael Leigh Cook: I'm Happy We Waited to Have a Baby". People. June 25, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
- ^ Webber, Stephanie (September 29, 2013). "Rachael Leigh Cook, Husband Daniel Gillies Welcome Baby Girl". Us Weekly. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- ^ Toomey, Alyssa (April 8, 2015). "Rachael Leigh Cook Gives Birth to Her Second Child With Husband Daniel Gillies: Find Out His Name!". E! News. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
- ^ "Rachael Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies Announce Split After Nearly 15 Years of Marriage". People. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ Stone, Natalie (July 16, 2020). "Rachael Leigh Cook's Husband Daniel Gillies Files for Divorce 1 Year After Separating". People.
- ^ "Rachael Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies Finalize Divorce Nearly 2 Years After Split". People. March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
a Los Angeles judge signed off on the actors' divorce on March 10, nearly two years after the couple split in June 2019.
- ^ "'Midsummer Night's Dream' Movie Stars Rachael Leigh Cook, Paz De La Huerta". Variety. April 23, 2016.
- ^ "'A Midsummer Night's Dream': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. June 17, 2017.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rachael Leigh Cook. |
- 1979 births
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- Actresses from Minneapolis
- American child actresses
- American film actresses
- American people of Italian descent
- American television actresses
- American video game actresses
- American voice actresses
- Living people
- Hill-McIndoe-Gillies family
- South High School (Minnesota) alumni