Scene from Against All Odds (1984)

Alternate Names: Рэйчел Уорд, ریچل وارد, 蕾切尔·沃德, 雷切尔·沃德

Physical Characteristics: N/A

First Appearances:

• Christmas Lilies of the Field (1979) as Jenny

Most Important Roles:

• The Final Terror (1983) as Margaret
• Against All Odds (1984) as Jessie Wyler
• On the Beach (2000) as Moira Davidson
• After Dark, My Sweet (1990) as Fay Anderson
• Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) as Juliet Forrest
• Wide Sargasso Sea (1993) as Annette Cosway
• Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992) as Queen Isabella
• Sharky's Machine (1981) as Domino
• How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989) as Julia Bagley
• Hotel Colonial (1987) as Irene Costa

Career Highlights:

• The Final Terror (1983)
• Against All Odds (1984)
• On the Beach (2000)
• After Dark, My Sweet (1990)
• Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)
• Wide Sargasso Sea (1993)
• Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992)
• Sharky's Machine (1981)
• How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989)
• Hotel Colonial (1987)

Awards:

• Won FCCA Award - Best Documentary Feature (2024)
• Nominated for 1 FCCA Award - Best Director (2010)
• Nominated for 1 AFI Award - Best Direction (2009)
• Nominated for 1 AFI Award - Best Screenplay - Adapted (2009)
• Won AFI Award - Best Short Fiction Film (2001)
• Nominated for 1 AFI Award - Best Screenplay in a Short Fiction Film (2001)
• Nominated for 1 Golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television (2001)
• Nominated for 1 Golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television (1984)
• Nominated for 1 Golden Globe - New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture (1982)
• Nominated for 1 New Voices/New Visions Grand Jury Prize (2010)
• Nominated for 1 Best Documentary - Best Documentary Film (2023)
• Nominated for 1 Australian Documentary Prize - Documentary (2023)
• Nominated for 1 Sustainable Future Award (2023)
• Nominated for 1 Sydney Film Prize - Best Film (2009)
• Won Best Actress Award (1987)
• Nominated for 1 IF Award - Best Direction (2009)
• Nominated for 1 IF Award - Best Short Film (2003)
• Nominated for 1 ADG Award - Best Direction in a Telemovie (2014)
• Nominated for 1 ADG Award - Esben Storm Award for Best Direction in a Children's TV Program (2012)
• Nominated for 1 ADG Award - Best Direction in a Feature Film (2009)

Rachel Claire Ward AM (born 12 September 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.