Rachel Ward, born on September 12, 1957, in Oxfordshire, England, is an English-Australian actress, film director, screenwriter, and television director. She left school at 16 to pursue a career in fashion and photography modeling, gracing the covers of Vogue, Harper's & Queen, and Cosmopolitan magazines.

Her early career also included television advertisements like Lincoln Mercury's "Cougar Girl" and Revlon's "Scoundrel Girl". Her breakthrough came in 1983 when she starred as Meggie Cleary in the television miniseries "The Thorn Birds," earning her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.

She married Australian actor Bryan Brown on April 16, 1983, and they have three children: Rose, Matilda, and Joseph. Rachel and Bryan met on the set of "The Thorn Birds" and have enjoyed a long-lasting marriage.

Throughout her career, Rachel Ward has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including "Sharky's Machine" (1981), "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" (1982), "Against All Odds" (1984), and "On the Beach" (2000).

She has also directed several films and TV series, such as "Beautiful Kate" (2009) and "Rachel's Farm" (2023). Her work behind the camera has earned her several awards, including for her short films "Blindman's Bluff" and "The Big House."