Rachel Ward

Rachel Claire Ward, born on September 12, 1957, is a talented English-Australian actress, director, screenwriter, and former model who has primarily focused her career in Australia.

In her modeling days, Ward graced the covers of prominent magazines such as Vogue, Harper's & Queen, and Cosmopolitan. After relocating to the United States in 1977, she featured in various television commercials, including the iconic Lincoln Mercury "Cougar Girl" and Revlon’s "Scoundrel Girl."

Her acting career took a significant turn in 1981 when she earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for "New Star of the Year" for her performance in Sharky's Machine alongside Burt Reynolds. The following year, she appeared in Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid with Steve Martin. Ward's career breakthrough occurred in 1983 when she portrayed Meggie Cleary in the miniseries The Thorn Birds, earning her a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film. That same year, she was also recognized as one of the world’s ten most beautiful women by American audiences. In 1984, she played the character Jess in the noir remake Against All Odds, featuring Jeff Bridges. After completing Fortress in 1985, she took a hiatus from film to refine her acting skills.

In 2001, she received another Golden Globe nomination for her role in On the Beach. Additionally, she won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Short Fiction Film for The Big House, which also garnered accolades at Flickerfest and the Film Critics Circle of Australia. Her 2003 work, Martha's New Coat, also received the ATOM Award.

In recognition of her contributions to social justice and the arts, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2005. Ward made her directorial debut in 2009 with Beautiful Kate, based on Newton Thornburg's novel, premiering at the Sydney Film Festival.