Rachel Ward

Biography

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…

Movies & TV Shows

1. Peter Rabbit (2018) — Josephine Rabbit (voice)
2. Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) — Juliet Forrest
3. Against All Odds (1984) — Jessie Wyler
4. The Thorn Birds (1983) — Meggie Cleary
5. Dynasty (1981)
6. Sharky's Machine (1981) — Domino
7. How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989) — Julia Bagley
8. Fortress (1985) — Sally Jones
9. The Final Terror (1983) — Margaret
10. On the Beach (2000) — Moira Davidson
11. After Dark, My Sweet (1990) — Fay Anderson
12. Night School (1981) — Eleanor Adjai
13. Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992) — Queen Isabella
14. Wide Sargasso Sea (1993) — Annette Cosway
15. Blackbeard (2006) — Sally Dunbar
16. The Good Wife (1987) — Marge Hills
17. Hotel Colonial (1987) — Irene Costa
18. Darby and Joan (2022) — English Sat Nav (Voice)
19. Johnson County War (2002) — Queenie
20. Double Jeopardy (1992) — Lisa Burns Donnelly
21. The Death and Life of Otto Bloom (2017) — Ada
22. Black Magic (1992) — Lillian Blatman
23. And the Sea Will Tell (1991) — Jennifer Jenkins
24. And Never Let Her Go (2001) — Christine Sheve
25. Bobbie's Girl (2002) — Roberta Langham
26. My Stepson, My Lover (1997) — Caitlin Cory
27. The Ascent (1994) — Patricia
28. Double Obsession (1992) — Grandmother
29. The Last Impresario (2014) — Self
30. Rachel's Farm (2023) — Self
31. Christmas Lilies of the Field (1979) — Jenny
32. Shadow of the Cobra (1989) — Chris Royston
33. Monarch Cove (2006)
34. Rain Shadow (2007) — Kate McDonald
35. And Never Let Her Go (2001) — Christine Sheve
36. Twisted Tales (1996) — Sara
37. Twisted (1997) — Sara (segment 'Third Party')
38. Whale Shark Jack (2026) — Aunty Dot
39. Seasons of Love (1999) — Kate Linthorne
40. On the Beach (2000) — Moira Davidson

Directed

1. Beautiful Kate (2009) — Director
2. Palm Beach (2019) — Director
3. Darby and Joan (2022) — Director
4. An Accidental Soldier (2013) — Director
5. The Straits (2012) — Director
6. The Big House (2001) — Director
7. Two Twisted (2006) — Director
8. Rachel's Farm (2023) — Director
9. Martha's New Coat (2003) — Director