Rachel Skarsten (born 23 April 1985)[1] is a Canadian actress. She is known for playing Dinah Lance in The WB's Birds of Prey (2002–2003), Tamsin in Showcase's Lost Girl (2013–2015), Queen Elizabeth I in the CW's Reign (2014–2017), and Beth Kane in the CW's Batwoman (2019–2022).

Rachel Skarsten
Skarsten at a 2014 Toronto International Film Festival party
Born (1985-04-23) April 23, 1985 (age 39)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
EducationQueen's University
OccupationActress
Years active1998–present
Spouse
Alexandre Robicquet
(m. 2020)
Children1
Websitewww.rachelskarsten.com

Early life

edit

Skarsten was born in Toronto, Ontario.[2] Her father Dr. Stan Skarsten was from Bergen, Norway, whilst her mother, Mary Aileen Self Skarsten, grew up in India.[1][3][4] She also has a younger brother.[1] Skarsten grew up in northern Toronto,[4] and spent time in Bergen during her youth.[3]

Skarsten trained with the Royal Academy of Dance for 12 years,[4][1] but after an ankle injury she gave up her dancing career and turned to hockey. In 2002 she played goalie for the Toronto Leaside Wildcats.[1][2]

She attended Claude Watson School for the Arts from grades 4 to 8, majoring in visual arts and the cello. She continued in the Claude Watson Arts Program at Earl Haig Secondary School from grades 9-12, majoring in visual arts.[citation needed] She was discovered by an agent at a memorial for her father.[2]

Acting career

edit

After getting an agent, Skarsten went on to be cast as a regular in shows such as Little Men. She landed her "big break" as a co-lead in the Warner Brothers television series Birds of Prey.[5][1] After filming wrapped on Birds of Prey, Skarsten left Los Angeles and returned to Canada where she completed a double degree in English Literature and Classical Studies at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.[2][6] Following this, she returned to acting with arcs on The LA Complex, Flashpoint, and The Listener as well as work in Canadian independents such as Servitude and Two Hands to Mouth. She played Andrea in the movie adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey.[citation needed]

Skarsten co-starred as Alice / Beth Kane, the main antagonist of the Batwoman television series, from 2019 to 2022.[7][8]

Personal life

edit

On 12 May 2020, Skarsten announced on her Instagram account that she had married her boyfriend, Alexandre Robicquet, privately.[9] In September 2023, Skarsten announced that she was pregnant with their first child who was born later that year.[10] In April 2024, she released the first photo of their son.[11]

Filmography

edit

Film

edit
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Virginia's Run Caroline Lofton
2003 Fear of the Dark Heather Fontaine
2007 Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer Eve
American Pie Presents Beta House Sharon Direct-to-video film
2011 Servitude Alex
2012 Two Hands to Mouth Leah Whitefield
The Vow Rose
2014 In My Dreams Jessa
2015 Fifty Shades of Grey Andrea
2017 Molly's Game Leah
2018 Acquainted Claire
2023 Going In Associate producer

Television

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1998 The Famous Jett Jackson Mickey Twitty Episode: "Vootle-Muck-a-Heey"
1998–1999 Little Men Elizabeth "Bess" Lawrence Main role
1999 Justice Actress Television film
2000 Angels in the Infield Brigitte Television film
Twice in a Lifetime Julie Adams Episode: "Curveball"
2001 Jewel Raylene Hilburn (age 14) Television film
Screech Owls Suki Sutherland Episode: "A Star Is Gone"
2002 POV Sports on CBC Herself Host: Science of Sports
Tracker Jamie Swenson / Lontoria Episode: "The Miracle"
2002–2003 Birds of Prey Dinah Lance Main role
2003 Missing Brittney Moore Episode: "Basic Training"
2005 Category 7: The End of the World Lyra Duffy Miniseries
2010 Made... The Movie Andi Television film
2011 Awakening Leila Television film
Flashpoint Natalie Braddock 4 episodes
2011–2012 The Listener Elyse 3 episodes
2012 The L.A. Complex Roxanne 3 episodes
Transporter: The Series Delia Episode: "The General's Daughter"
Beauty & the Beast Brooke Episodes: "Worth" and "Bridesmaid Up!"
2013–2015 Lost Girl Tamsin Recurring role
2013 Lost Girl: An Evening at the Clubhouse Herself Television film
2014 In My Dreams Jessa Television film
2015–2017 Reign Elizabeth of England Guest role (season 2); main role (seasons 3–4)
2015 The Red Dress Patricia Television film
2017 Wynonna Earp Eliza Shapiro Episode: "Steel Bars and Stone Walls"
Marry Me at Christmas Madeline Krug Television film (Hallmark)
2018 Imposters Poppy Langmore Recurring role (season 2)
2019 Timeless Love Megan Television film
2019–2022 Batwoman Alice / Beth Kane[a] Main role
2020 Nurses Lily Dawson Episode: "Lady Business"
2022 The Royal Nanny Claire Champion Television film (Hallmark)
2023 Christmas Island Captain Kate Gabriel
2024 Jazz Ramsey: A K-9 Mystery Jazz Ramsey
The Christmas Charade Whitney
  1. ^ Also makes appearances as Beth Kane from an alternate Earth in 3 episodes of season 1.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Rachel Skarsten". Rachel Skarsten. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Skarsten, Rachel. "Lost Girl". Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2003.
  3. ^ a b Weisz, Marnu. "Rachel Skarsten" (PDF). Runway. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Worcel, Dylan. "Cool Chic". CIVILIAN MAGAZINE. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Crime Fighting Never Looked So Good""Warner Bros.", Retrieved 7 February 2017. Archived 1 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Lee, Jennifer (September 2015). "Celebrity News and Interviews featuring Rachel Skarsten of Reign". Filler Magazine. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  7. ^ Anderson, Jenna. "'Batwoman' Casts Rachel Skarsten as Red Alice". ComicBook.com.
  8. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (16 May 2019). "CW 2019-2020 Primetime Schedule: 'Batwoman' Teams With 'Supergirl' on Sunday". Variety. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  9. ^ Rachel Skarsten (12 May 2020). "I married my sweetheart! This wasn't taken on our wedding day, that will stay private, but I wanted to share the news on my own terms..." Instagram. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  10. ^ Rachel Skarsten (6 September 2023). "9 months". Instagram. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  11. ^ Skarsten, Rachel (24 April 2024). "The first day of the last year of my 30's was pretty much perfection. Very grateful for another trip around the sun 🌞". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
edit
  NODES
INTERN 1
Note 3