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 | 23 April 1985 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Education | Queen's University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse |
Alexandre Robicquet (m. 2020) |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | www |
Early life
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
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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
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.[10]
Filmography
Film
| 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
| 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 |
- ^ Also makes appearances as Beth Kane from an alternate Earth in 3 episodes of season 1.
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Rachel Skarsten". Rachel Skarsten. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d Skarsten, Rachel. "Lost Girl". Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2003.
- ^ a b Weisz, Marnu. "Rachel Skarsten" (PDF). Runway. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Worcel, Dylan. "Cool Chic". CIVILIAN MAGAZINE. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Crime Fighting Never Looked So Good""Warner Bros.", Retrieved 7 February 2017. Archived 1 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Lee, Jennifer (September 2015). "Celebrity News and Interviews featuring Rachel Skarsten of Reign". Filler Magazine. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Jenna. "'Batwoman' Casts Rachel Skarsten as Red Alice". ComicBook.com.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (16 May 2019). "CW 2019-2020 Primetime Schedule: 'Batwoman' Teams With 'Supergirl' on Sunday". Variety. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Rachel Skarsten (6 September 2023). "9 months". Instagram. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
