She quickly won a role in the play Glad at the Edinburgh Festival. The experience was so positive she realized acting was truly her passion and she would pursue it at all costs.

With a grant from the Prince's Trust, she started The Crowded Theatre Group in her University town of Sheffield with four friends from University. The company ran for a year before Rachel moved to London to pursue acting full time.

In 1997, Rachel won her first film role in the award-winning film Photographing Fairies opposite Ben Kingsley, Toby Stephens and Emily Woof for director Nick Willing. Which was quickly followed by a leading role opposite David Bowie in the feature film Everybody Loves Sunshine. Her other credits include the features Lighthouse (nominated for a British Independent Film Award) opposite James Purefoy for director Simon Hunter; Canone Inverso with Gabriel Byrne for Italian director Ricky Tognazzi, as well as numerous British television movies and series, including Cruise of the Gods opposite Steve Coogan.

Her breakout role came in the Oscar nominated Bollywood film Lagaan: Once Upon A Time in India, opposite the “Tom Cruise of India”, Aamir Kahn for director Ashutosh Gowariker. Her performance, as Elizabeth Russell won her critical acclaim and rocketed her to popularity in both India and the U.K. and also brought her to the attention of American audiences.

Seeing Other People was Rachel’s first American feature. This Independent ensemble comedy directed by Wally Wolodarsky also starred Jay Mohr, Lauren Graham and Josh Charles to name a few. That was quickly followed up by a handful of guest stints on American television.

Rachel joined the cast of the critically acclaimed Showtime series The L-Word during its second season, playing the character of Helena Peabody. The series, scheduled to begin its fifth season in January 2008 in Vancouver, also stars Jennifer Beals, Pam Grier and Mia Kirshner.

On the big screen she was recently seen in the feature film Gray Matters opposite Heather Graham, Sissy Spacek and Alan Cumming. She is currently shooting a recurring role in the CBS show Ghost Whisperer opposite Jennifer Love Hewitt and Aisha Tyler.

When not working, Rachel divides her time between London and Los Angeles.

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