Rachel Griffiths
Rachel Anne Griffiths (born 18 December 1968) is an Australian actress, television director, and screenwriter. She came to international prominence through her leading roles in the films Muriel's Wedding (1994), Hilary and Jackie (1998), and Blow (2001), and the television series Six Feet Under (2001–2005), Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011), and When We Rise (2017).
Griffiths was born in Melbourne, Victoria, to Edward Griffiths, an electrical engineer, and Anna Griffiths, a teacher. She attended Star of the Sea College, Brighton East and then the Victorian College of the Arts, where she studied drama. After graduating from drama school, Griffiths began her acting career in Australian theatre. She made her film debut in 1992 in Blame It on the Bellboy.
In 1994, Griffiths starred in Muriel's Wedding, a critically acclaimed Australian romantic comedy-drama film. The film was a commercial success in Australia and overseas, and Griffiths' performance earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
In 1998, Griffiths starred in Hilary and Jackie, a biographical film about the cellist Jacqueline du Pré. Griffiths' performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
In 2001, Griffiths starred in Blow, a biographical crime film about the life of drug trafficker George Jung. Griffiths' performance earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
In 2001, Griffiths began starring in the HBO drama series Six Feet Under. The series ran for five seasons and was a critical and commercial success. Griffiths' performance earned her four Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
In 2006, Griffiths began starring in the ABC drama series Brothers & Sisters. The series ran for five seasons and was a critical and commercial success. Griffiths' performance earned her two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
In 2017, Griffiths starred in the ABC miniseries When We Rise, which tells the story of the LGBT rights movement in the United States. Griffiths' performance earned her an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.
Griffiths has also directed and written several short films and television episodes. In 2014, she made her feature film directorial debut with Ride, a drama film about a young woman who travels across the United States on a motorcycle.
Griffiths is a vocal advocate for gender equality and has spoken out against sexism in the film and television industry. She is also a supporter of the LGBTQ rights movement.
Griffiths has been married twice. She has two children with her first husband, Andrew Taylor, whom she divorced in 2009. She married her second husband, Sam Neill, in 2011.