Rachel Blanchard

Last updated

Rachel Blanchard
RachelBlanchard08TIFF.jpg
Born (1976-03-19) 19 March 1976 (age 48)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada [1]
OccupationActress
Years active1984–present

Rachel Elise Blanchard (born 19 March 1976) is a Canadian actress. [1] Her television roles include Nancy in the British sitcom Peep Show, Emma in the American comedy-drama series You Me Her, and Susannah in the American romantic drama series The Summer I Turned Pretty . [2]

Contents

Career

Blanchard's career was launched with a part in a McDonald's commercial, [1] and as an eight-year-old on the Canadian children's show The Kids of Degrassi Street , [3] in which she played Melanie Schlegel. She also starred in the television series War of the Worlds as Suzanne McCullough's daughter Debi and in YTV's Are You Afraid of the Dark? as Kristen. [4] Blanchard played the part of Cher Horowitz (originally portrayed by Alicia Silverstone in the film version) in the television series Clueless (based on the 1995 movie of the same name). [5] She played Roxanne on the television series 7th Heaven [6] from 2002 to 2004.

Blanchard had notable turns in fellow Canadian director and auteur Atom Egoyan films, first with Where the Truth Lies (2005), then as protagonist Rachel in his Cannes celebrated Adoration (2008), winner of that year's festival Ecumenical Jury Prize. [7]

Blanchard appeared as Nancy, the American girlfriend of main character Jeremy Usborne (Robert Webb), in the second series of British sitcom Peep Show . She reprised this role in the fourth series (2007). [8] She played Sally on the HBO show Flight of the Conchords [9] [10] and had a recurring role in the first season of the 2014 FX crime series Fargo . [11] From 2016–2020, Blanchard played Emma Trakarsky in comedy-drama You Me Her , about a woman who enters into a polyamorous relationship with her husband and a younger woman. [12]

She won the Gemini Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the 26th Gemini Awards for her appearance on Call Me Fitz . [13]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991 On My Own Tania
1995 Iron Eagle on the Attack Kitty Shaw
1999 The Rage: Carrie 2 Monica Jones
2000 Road Trip Tiffany Henderson
2001 Sugar & Spice Hannah Wald
NailedKelly Sherman
2002 The Wild Dogs Moll
2003Chasing HoldenT.J. Jensen
2004 Without a Paddle Flower
2005 Where the Truth Lies Maureen O'Flaherty
2006 Comeback Season Chloe Pearce
Snakes on a Plane Mercedes Harbont
2007CarelessCheryl
2008 Adoration Rachel
Growing OpCrystal
2009 Spread Emily
2010 Open House Alice
Daydream Nation Ms. Budge
2012OvernightJenny
My Uncle Rafael Michele
2013 Mad Ship Adeline
ScrapperSharon
2014Dark HeartsClarissa
2020Getting to Know YouKayla
2022 Deep Water Kristin Peterson
2025 Vicious TBAPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984–1985 The Kids of Degrassi Street Melanie"Liz Sits the Schlegels", "Martin Meets the Pirates"
1985 The Littlest Hobo Lisa Farrell"Voyageurs: Parts 1 & 2"
1986 The Elephant Show Rachel"Masquerade"
Alex: The Life of a ChildWendyTV film
1988 Glory Enough for All Melanie
1988–1990 War of the Worlds Debi McCulloughRegular role
1990 The Campbells Bonnie"Back to School"
The Hitchhiker Karen"Riding the Nightmare"
Clarence JillTV film
1990–1993 Are You Afraid of the Dark? KristenMain role
1993–1995 Chris Cross Dinah McGee
1995 Young Ivanhoe RowenaTV film
1996 Flash Forward Ellen Fisher"No More Good Days", "House Party", "Cool Book"
1996–1999 Clueless Cher HorowitzLead role
2002–2004 7th Heaven Roxanne Richardson Regular role
2004–2007 Peep Show NancyRecurring role
20051/4lifeLisaTV film
Joey Joelle"Joey and the Fancy Sister"
2006Our ThirtiesJessicaTV short
2007 Flight of the Conchords Sally"Sally", "Sally Returns"
2008 Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning Louisa ThomasTV film
2009Everything She Ever WantedRachel ReedeTV miniseries
2010 Call Me Fitz Janet"Going Down Syndrome"
2011 Flashpoint Jackie Emery"I'd Do Anything"
The Case for ChristmasLaurenTV film
2012 Wedding Band Tracy"We Are Family"
2013The Surrogacy TrapMallory ParkesTV film
Legit Allie"Cuckoo's Nest", "Hat Hair"
Psych Laura"Juliet Wears the Pantsuit"
2014My Gal Sunday [14] Sunday O'Brien-ParkerTV film
Fargo Kitty NygaardRecurring role
2015 Childrens Hospital Missy"Kick Me"
Another Period Wedding Guest / Clambake Guest"Reject's Beach", "Modern Pigs"
2016–2020 You Me Her Emma TrakarskyMain role
2022–present The Summer I Turned Pretty SusannahMain role

Music videos

YearTitleArtist(s)
2000"Mr. E's Beautiful Blues" Eels
2004"Sunday Morning" Maroon 5
2007"Business Time" Flight of the Conchords

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenna Elfman</span> American actress

Jenna Elfman is an American actress. She is best known for her leading role as Dharma on the ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg (1997–2002), for which she received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1999, and three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. After making her film debut in Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), she has appeared in Krippendorf's Tribe (1998), Dr. Dolittle (1998), EDtv (1999), Keeping the Faith (2000), Town & Country (2001), Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003), Clifford's Really Big Movie (2004), and Big Stone Gap (2014).

<i>Peep Show</i> (British TV series) British sitcom television series

Peep Show is a British television sitcom starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb, and created by Andrew O'Connor, Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain. The series was written by Armstrong and Bain, with additional material by Mitchell and Webb, among others. It was broadcast on Channel 4 from 19 September 2003 to 16 December 2015. In 2010, it became the longest-running comedy in Channel 4 history in terms of years on air.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flight of the Conchords</span> New Zealand musical comedy duo

Flight of the Conchords are a New Zealand musical comedy duo formed in Wellington in 1998. The band consists of multi-instrumentalists Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. Beginning as a popular live comedy act in the early 2000s, the duo's comedy and music became the basis of the self-titled BBC radio series (2005) and, subsequently, the HBO American television series (2007–2009). Most recently, they released the HBO comedy special Live in London in 2018. The special was concurrently released by Sub Pop as their fifth album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooke Nevin</span> Canadian actress (born 1982)

Brooke Candice Nevin is a Canadian actress, best known for portraying Rachel on the science fiction series Animorphs (1998–1999) and as Julianne "Jules" Simms (2011–2012) on Breakout Kings. She also played Sonja Lester (2010–2013) on Call Me Fitz and was a series regular on USA Network's The 4400 (2004).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jemaine Clement</span> New Zealand actor, comedian, musician and filmmaker (born 1974)

Jemaine Atea Mahana Clement is a New Zealand actor, comedian, musician, and filmmaker. He has released several albums with Bret McKenzie as the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, and created a comedy TV series titled Flight of the Conchords for both the BBC and HBO, for which he received six Primetime Emmy nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caroline Lesley</span> American-Canadian actor and singer

Caroline Lesley is an American-Canadian actor and singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Keller (actress)</span> American actress (born 1992)

Rachel Rye Keller is an American actress, best known for her roles as Sydney "Syd" Barrett in the FX television series Legion and as Simone Gerhardt in the second season of the FX black comedy crime drama anthology series Fargo.

Cringe comedy is a subgenre of comedy that derives humor from social awkwardness, guilty pleasure, self-deprecation, idiosyncratic humor, and personal distress. A type of a cringe comedy are pseudo-reality TV shows, sometimes with an air of a mockumentary. They revolve around a serious setting, such as a workplace, to lend the comedy a sense of reality.

<i>Flight of the Conchords</i> (TV series) American sitcom

Flight of the Conchords is an American sitcom that was first shown on HBO on June 17, 2007. The show follows the adventures of a struggling two-man band from New Zealand, as its members seek fame and success in New York City. The show stars the duo of Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, who also perform as real-life musical comedy act Flight of the Conchords. In the series, they play fictionalised versions of themselves and their band. A second season was announced on August 17, 2007 and shown from January 18, 2009. On December 11, 2009, the duo announced that the series was not going to be returning for a third season.

Sally (<i>Flight of the Conchords</i>) 1st episode of the 1st season of Flight of the Conchords

"Sally" is the pilot episode of the American television sitcom Flight of the Conchords. It first aired on HBO on June 17, 2007. In this episode, New Zealanders Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie of the band Flight of the Conchords have moved to New York City to try to make it in the United States. At a party, Jemaine falls for, and subsequently begins dating, Sally—Bret's former girlfriend. As Jemaine's attentions focus on Sally, a lonely Bret is forced to deal with the advances of Mel, the band's obsessed—and only—fan. Meanwhile, Murray, the band's manager, helps the band film their first music video, although they cannot afford decent costumes or proper video equipment.

<i>Adoration</i> (2008 film) 2008 Canadian film

Adoration is a 2008 Canadian drama film written and directed by Atom Egoyan and starring Arsinée Khanjian, Scott Speedman, Rachel Blanchard, Noam Jenkins, Devon Bostick, and Kenneth Welsh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Bainborough</span> Canadian actor and comedian

Bob Bainborough is a Canadian actor and comedian. He is known for playing the role of Dalton Humphrey in the Canadian comedy series The Red Green Show, and appearances on History Bites. Bainborough was nominated for a Gemini Award in both series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unnatural Love</span> 5th episode of the 2nd season of Flight of the Conchords

"Unnatural Love" is the fifth episode of the second season of the HBO comedy series Flight of the Conchords, and the seventeenth episode overall. It first aired on February 15, 2009. The episode was directed by Michel Gondry and written by Iain Morris and Damon Beesley. Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie of the band Flight of the Conchords star as fictional versions of themselves. The plot focuses on Jemaine's forbidden romance with the Australian Keitha, which chagrins his fellow New Zealanders Bret and Murray, the band's manager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey King</span> American actress (born 1999)

Joey Lynn King is an American actress. She starred as Ramona Quimby in the comedy film Ramona and Beezus (2010) and gained wider recognition for her lead role as a late-blooming teenager in The Kissing Booth film series (2018–2021). King received critical acclaim for playing Gypsy-Rose Blanchard in the crime drama series The Act (2019), for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

Jackie Torrens is a Canadian actress, writer and filmmaker based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Star Comedy</span> Television channel

Star Comedy is a Portuguese pay television channel that broadcasts comedy series and films, owned by The Walt Disney Company Portugal. Programs are mostly imported, mainly from the United States, occasionally also Canada and the United Kingdom. The channel has become the home for primarily Fox's animated adult shows such as The Simpsons and Family Guy. The name of the channel is derived from one of the multiplex Star Premium channels in Latin America which originally was used in 2021.

<i>Call Me Fitz</i> Canadian television series

Call Me Fitz is a Canadian television series produced by E1 Entertainment, Amaze Film & Television, and Big Motion Pictures. The half-hour comedy stars Jason Priestley as Richard "Fitz" Fitzpatrick, a morally bankrupt used-car salesman whose consequence-free life is complicated by the arrival of do-gooder Larry, another salesman who claims he is Fitz's conscience.

Sarah Burns is an American film and television actress and comedian, best known for playing Krista on HBO's Enlightened.

<i>The Act</i> (TV series) 2019 American limited series

The Act is an American true crime drama television limited series that premiered in eight parts on March 20, 2019, on Hulu. The plot is based on the life of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who was accused of abusing her daughter by fabricating illness and disabilities. Joey King portrayed Gypsy, while Patricia Arquette played her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. AnnaSophia Robb, Chloë Sevigny, and Calum Worthy star in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefani Robinson</span> American screenwriter

Stefani Robinson is an American screenwriter and producer. She is best known for her work on FX's Atlanta, for which she won two Writers Guild of America Awards, and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. Robinson was a writer and executive producer for the FX television series What We Do in The Shadows, for which she received Emmy nominations for writing, and for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2020 and 2022. She wrote the screenplay for the 2023 biopic Chevalier.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Rachel Blanchard's bio at www.northernstars.ca
  2. "‘Summer I Turned Pretty’ Series at Amazon From Jenny Han Sets Four Lead Roles" by Joe Otterson at variety.com
  3. Rachel Blanchard's bio at www.tribute.ca
  4. "What The Cast Of Are You Afraid Of The Dark? Is Doing Today" by Mike Bedard at looper.com
  5. "20 Movies That Became TV Shows" by Madeline Boardman at ew.com
  6. "7th Heaven: Where are they now?" by Mary Sollosi at ew.com
  7. Cannes, Jury oecumenique au Festival de (September 17, 2023). "Adoration". Jury oecumenique au Festival de Cannes. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  8. "Channel Four – Peep Show". Channel4.com. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  9. "Women We Endorse: The Women of Flight of the Conchords" by Ross McCammon at www.esquire.com
  10. "Calum Henderson: What if Flight of the Conchords sucked?" by Calum Henderson at nzherald.co.nz
  11. "Elizabeth Rohm & J.R. Ramirez Join Starz’s ‘Power’; Rachel Blanchard In FX’s ‘Fargo’" by Nellie Andreeva at deadline.com
  12. "‘You Me Her’ Renewed for Seasons 2 and 3 by AT&T" by Laura Prudom at variety.com
  13. "Jason Priestley Comedy Big Winner at Canada's Gemini Awards" by Etan Vlessing at www.backstage.com
  14. "Jack Wagner, Cameron Mathison, Rachel Blanchard to Star in Hallmark Backdoor Pilot (Exclusive)" by Lesley Goldberg at www.hollywoodreporter.com