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Rachel Weisz
Rachel Weisz
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Rachel Hannah Weisz (/vs/;[2] born 7 March 1970)[note 1] is an English actress. Known for her roles in independent films and blockbusters, she has received several awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Laurence Olivier Award.

Key Information

Weisz began acting in stage and television productions in the early 1990s, and made her film debut in Death Machine (1994). She won a Critics' Circle Theatre Award for her role in the 1994 revival of Noël Coward's play Design for Living, and went on to appear in the 1999 Donmar Warehouse production of Tennessee Williams' drama Suddenly Last Summer. Her film breakthrough came with her starring role as Evelyn Carnahan in the Hollywood action films The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001).[9] Weisz went on to star in several films of the 2000s, including Enemy at the Gates (2001), About a Boy (2002), Runaway Jury (2003), Constantine (2005), The Fountain (2006), Definitely, Maybe (2008), The Lovely Bones (2009) and The Whistleblower (2010).

For her performance as an activist in the 2005 thriller The Constant Gardener, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and for playing Blanche DuBois in a 2009 revival of A Streetcar Named Desire, she won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress. In the 2010s, Weisz continued to star in big-budget films such as the action film The Bourne Legacy (2012) and the fantasy film Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) and achieved critical acclaim for her performances in the independent films The Deep Blue Sea (2011), Denial (2016), and The Favourite (2018). For her portrayal of Sarah Churchill in The Favourite, she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and received a second Academy Award nomination.[10] Weisz portrayed Melina Vostokoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Black Widow (2021) and starred as twin obstetricians in the thriller miniseries Dead Ringers (2023).

Early life and family

[edit]

Weisz was born on 7 March 1970 in Westminster, London, and grew up in Hampstead Garden Suburb.[11] Her father, George Weisz, was a Hungarian Jewish mechanical engineer.[12][13] Her mother, Edith Ruth (née Teich),[14] was a teacher-turned-psychotherapist originally from Vienna, Austria.[15][16] Her maternal grandfather's ancestry was Austrian Jewish; her maternal grandmother was Catholic and of Italian ancestry.[17][18][19][20][21] The scholar and social activist James Parkes helped her mother's family to leave Austria for England.[22] Weisz's mother was raised in the Catholic church and formally converted to Judaism upon marrying Weisz's father.[23][24] Weisz's maternal grandfather was Alexander Teich, a Jewish activist who had been a secretary of the World Union of Jewish Students.[25][26][27]

Her parents immigrated to the United Kingdom as children around 1938, prior to the outbreak of World War II, in order to escape the Nazis.[28][29][30][31] Her younger sister Minnie Weisz is a visual artist.[32] Weisz's parents valued the arts; they encouraged their children to form opinions of their own by engaging their participation in family debates.[33] Weisz left North London Collegiate School and attended Benenden School for one year, completing A-levels at St Paul's Girls School.[34][35]

Known for being an "English rose",[36][37][38][23] Weisz began modelling at the age of 14.[39] In 1984, she gained public attention when she turned down an offer to star in King David with Richard Gere.[34]

Weisz went to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where she read English, matriculating in 1988. She graduated with upper second-class honours. During her university years she was a contemporary of Sacha Baron Cohen, Alexander Armstrong, Emily Maitlis, Sue Perkins, Mel Giedroyc, Richard Osman and Ben Miller (whom she briefly dated),[40] and appeared in various student dramatic productions, co-founding a student drama group called Cambridge Talking Tongues.[41] The group won a Guardian Student Drama Award at the 1991 Edinburgh Festival Fringe for an improvised piece written by Weisz herself called Slight Possession,[42] directed by David Farr.[43]

Weisz then trained under master clown Philippe Gaulier at École Philippe Gaulier.[44][45]

Career

[edit]

1990s

[edit]

In 1992, Weisz appeared in the television film Advocates II, followed by roles in the Inspector Morse episode "Twilight of the Gods", and the BBC's steamy period drama Scarlet and Black, alongside Ewan McGregor.[46] Dirty Something, a BBC Screen Two, hour-long television film made in 1992, was Weisz's first film.[47]

Weisz's breakthrough role on the stage was that of Gilda in Sean Mathias's 1994 revival of Noël Coward's Design for Living at the Gielgud Theatre,[48][49] for which she received the London Critics' Circle Award for the most promising newcomer.[50][51] Her portrayal was described as "wonderful" by a contemporary review.[52]

Weisz started her film career with a minor role in the 1994 film Death Machine;[46] her first major role came in the 1996 film Chain Reaction.[53] The film received mostly negative reviews–it holds a 16% rating on Rotten Tomatoes[54] and was a minor financial success.[55] She next appeared as Miranda Fox in Stealing Beauty, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci,[56] where she was first labelled an "English rose".[38]

Weisz found roles in the 1997 American drama Swept from the Sea,[57] the 1998 British television comedy-drama My Summer with Des, Michael Winterbottom's crime film I Want You,[58] and David Leland's The Land Girls, based on Angela Huth's book of the same name.[59]

In 1999, Weisz played Greta in the historical film Sunshine.[60] The same year, her international breakthrough came with the 1999 adventure film The Mummy, in which she played the female lead opposite Brendan Fraser. Her character, Evelyn Carnahan, is an English Egyptologist,[61] who undertakes an expedition to the fictional ancient Egyptian city of Hamunaptra to discover an ancient book. Variety criticised the direction of the film, writing: "(the actors) have been directed to broad, undisciplined performances [...] Buffoonery hardly seems like Weisz's natural domain, as the actress strains for comic effects that she can't achieve".[62] She followed this up with the sequel The Mummy Returns in 2001, which grossed an estimated $433 million worldwide,[63] (equivalent to $769 million in 2024 dollars)[64] higher than the original's $260 million[65] (equal to $491 million in 2024 dollars).[64]

Also in 1999, she played the role of Catherine in the Donmar Warehouse production of Tennessee Williams' Suddenly Last Summer,[66] What's on Stage called her "captivating", stating that she brought "a degree of credibility to a difficult part".[67] The same year, Weisz appeared in Neil LaBute's The Shape of Things at the Almeida Theatre, then temporarily located in London's King's Cross, for which she received a Theatre World Award.[68][69] CurtainUp called her "a sophisticated, independent artist" with "great stage presence".[70]

2000s

[edit]

In 2000, she portrayed Petula in the film Beautiful Creatures,[46] followed by 2001's Enemy at the Gates,[71] and the 2002 comedy-drama About a Boy, with Hugh Grant, based on Nick Hornby's 1998 novel.[72] In 2003, she played Marlee in the adaptation of John Grisham's legal thriller novel The Runaway Jury;[73] and starred in the film adaptation of the romantic comedy-drama play The Shape of Things.[74]

Weisz in 2007

In 2004, Weisz appeared in the comedy Envy. The film failed at the box office.[75] Variety opined that Weisz and co-star Amy Poehler "get fewer choice moments than they deserve."[76] Her next role was alongside Keanu Reeves in Constantine, based on the comic book Hellblazer.[77] Film Threat called her portrayal "effective at projecting scepticism and, eventually, dawning horror".[78]

Her next appearance, in 2005, was in Fernando Meirelles's The Constant Gardener,[79] a film adaptation of a John le Carré thriller set in the slums of Kibera and Loiyangalani, Kenya.[80][15] Weisz played an activist, Tessa Quayle, married to a British embassy official.[81] The film was critically acclaimed,[82] earning Weisz the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress,[83] the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress,[84] and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.[85] UK newspaper The Guardian noted that the film "established her in the front rank of British actors",[86] while the BBC wrote: "Weisz is exceptional: film star charisma coupled with raw emotion in a performance to fall in love with".[87] In 2006, she received the BAFTA Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year.[88]

In 2006, Weisz starred in American filmmaker Darren Aronofsky's romantic drama The Fountain.[89] The San Francisco Chronicle found her portrayal of Queen Isabel "less convincing" than other roles.[90] That same year, she provided the voice for Saphira the dragon in the fantasy film Eragon;[91] and rejected an offer to star in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor due to script issues.[92][93] The part eventually went to Maria Bello.[94] Her subsequent films include the 2007 Wong Kar-wai drama My Blueberry Nights,[95] and Rian Johnson's 2008 caper film The Brothers Bloom.[95] In 2009, she played the lead role of Hypatia of Alexandria in the historical drama film Agora, a Spanish production directed by Alejandro Amenábar.[96] The New York Times called her portrayal "adept", noting that she imparted "a sympathetic presence".[97] That same year, she appeared as Blanche DuBois, in Rob Ashford's revival of the play A Streetcar Named Desire.[98] Her performance in the play was praised by critics, the Daily Telegraph noted that she "rises to the challenge magnificently".[99]

2010s

[edit]
Weisz at the 2012 Deauville American Film Festival

Weisz starred in the film The Whistleblower, which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010. The film was based on the true story of human trafficking by employees of contractor DynCorp. During its première, the intense depiction of the treatment meted out to victims by the kidnappers made a woman in the audience faint.[100] Variety wrote "Weisz's performance holds the viewer every step of the way."[101] That same year, she guest-starred in the animated series The Simpsons, in the 22nd season episode "How Munched is That Birdie in the Window?".[102] Weisz's 2011 roles included an adaptation of Terence Rattigan's play The Deep Blue Sea,[103] Fernando Meirelles' drama 360,[104] the BBC espionage thriller Page Eight, and the thriller film Dream House.[105]

She filmed scenes for To the Wonder, a 2012 romantic drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick; her scenes were cut.[106][107][108] She has starred in the 2012 action thriller film The Bourne Legacy based on the series of books by Robert Ludlum.[109]

In 2013, Weisz starred on Broadway alongside her husband, Daniel Craig, in a revival of Harold Pinter's Betrayal. It opened 27 October 2013, and closed 5 January 2014.[110][111] Box office receipts of $17.5 million made it the second highest grossing Broadway play of 2013.[112] That year, Weisz played Evanora in the fantasy film Oz the Great and Powerful.[113]

Weisz at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival

In 2015, she appeared in drama film Youth and in science fiction film The Lobster. Lobster won the Cannes Jury Prize. In 2016, she appeared in the drama film The Light Between Oceans, and portrayed Holocaust historian Deborah Lipstadt in Denial, a film based on Lipstadt's book, and directed by Mick Jackson.

In 2017 Weisz starred in My Cousin Rachel, a drama based on Daphne du Maurier's novel, and in 2018 co-starred in a British biographical film about sailor Donald Crowhurst, The Mercy, directed by James Marsh.

Weisz's production company, LC6 Productions, released its first feature film, Disobedience, in 2017, starring Weisz and Rachel McAdams.[114][115] Weisz grew up three London Underground stops away from the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood where the film is set. Raised within Judaism, Weisz never fully connected to her ancestral religion. She claims she was "really disobedient" herself and has never felt she fits in anywhere.[116]

In 2018, Weisz played Sarah Churchill in The Favourite, winning the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and receiving her second nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

2020s

[edit]

In April 2019, Weisz entered talks to join Scarlett Johansson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Black Widow.[117] In July of that year, Weisz was announced to play Melina Vostokoff in the film, which was released on 9 July 2021.[118][119] Weisz starred in and executive produced the thriller miniseries Dead Ringers (2023), a remake of the 1988 film of the same name for Amazon Prime Video.[120]

Personal life

[edit]

In 2001, Weisz began dating the American filmmaker and producer Darren Aronofsky. They met backstage at London's Almeida Theatre, where she was starring in The Shape of Things. Weisz moved to New York City with Aronofsky the following year;[68] in 2005, they were engaged. Their son was born in May 2006 in New York City.[121][122] The couple resided in the East Village in Manhattan. Mohel Philip Sherman performed their son's brit milah (bris).[123] In November 2010, Weisz and Aronofsky announced that they had been apart for months but remained close friends and were committed to bringing up their son together in New York.[124]

Weisz and the English actor Daniel Craig were friends for many years and worked together on the 2011 film Dream House. They began dating in December 2010 and married on 22 June 2011 in a private New York ceremony, with four guests in attendance, including Weisz's son and Craig's daughter.[125] On 1 September 2018, it was reported that they had their first child together, a daughter.[126]

Weisz has been featured on the covers of magazines such as Vogue.[127] She served as a muse to the fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez,[128] and was named L'Oréal's global ambassador in 2010.[129] Weisz learned karate for her role in The Brothers Bloom.[130] A British citizen by birth, Weisz became a naturalised American citizen in 2011.[131]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1994 Death Machine Junior Executive
White Goods Elaine
1996 Chain Reaction Dr. Lily Sinclair
Stealing Beauty Miranda Fox
1997 Bent Prostitute
Going All the Way Marty Pilcher
Swept from the Sea Amy Foster
1998 I Want You Helen
The Land Girls Agapanthus
1999 The Mummy Evelyn Carnahan
Sunshine Greta Sors
Tube Tales Angela Segment: Rosebud
2000 Beautiful Creatures Petula
2001 Enemy at the Gates Tania Chernova
The Mummy Returns Evelyn Carnahan / Nefertiti
2002 About a Boy Rachel
2003 Confidence Lily
The Shape of Things Evelyn Ann Thompson Also producer
Runaway Jury Marlee
2004 Envy Debbie Dingman
2005 Constantine Angela and Isabel Dodson
The Constant Gardener Tessa Quayle
2006 The Fountain Queen Isabel / Izzi Creo
Eragon Saphira (voice)
2007 Fred Claus Wanda
My Blueberry Nights Sue Lynne
2008 Definitely, Maybe Summer Hartley
The Brothers Bloom Penelope
2009 The Lovely Bones Abigail Salmon
Agora Hypatia
2010 The Whistleblower Kathryn Bolkovac
2011 360 Rose
Dream House Libby Atenton
The Deep Blue Sea Hester Collyer
2012 The Bourne Legacy Dr. Marta Shearing
To the Wonder Dinah Scenes deleted[132]
2013 Oz the Great and Powerful Evanora
2015 The Lobster Short Sighted Woman
Youth Lena Ballinger
2016 Complete Unknown Alice Manning
The Light Between Oceans Hannah Roennfeldt
Denial Deborah Lipstadt
2017 My Cousin Rachel Rachel Ashley
Disobedience Ronit Krushka Also producer
The Mercy Clare Crowhurst
2018 The Favourite Sarah Churchill
2021 Black Widow Melina Vostokoff

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1992 Advocates II Sarah Thompson Television film
1993 Inspector Morse Arabella Baydon Episode: "Twilight of the Gods"
Tropical Heat Joey Episode: "His Pal Joey"
Scarlet and Black Mathilde TV miniseries
1994 Seventeen TV short
Screen Two Becca Episode: "Dirtysomething"
1998 My Summer with Des Rosie Television film
2000 This Is Not an Exit: The Fictional World of Bret Easton Ellis Lauren Hynde Television program
2010 The Simpsons Dr. Thurston (voice) Episode: "How Munched Is That Birdie in the Window?"
2011 Page Eight Nancy Pierpan Television film
2023 Dead Ringers Elliot and Beverly Mantle Lead role; also executive producer
What If...? Melina Vostokoff (voice) Episode: "What If... Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?"
TBA Vladimir Upcoming series; also executive producer

Theatre

[edit]
Year Play Role Theatre
1994 Design for Living Gilda Gielgud Theatre
1999 Suddenly Last Summer Catherine Donmar Warehouse
The Shape of Things Evelyn Ann Thompson Almeida Theatre
2001 The Shape of Things Evelyn Ann Thompson Promenade Theatre
2009 A Streetcar Named Desire Blanche DuBois Donmar Warehouse
2013 Betrayal Emma Ethel Barrymore Theatre
2016 Plenty Susan Traherne The Public Theater

Awards and nominations

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Rachel Weisz (born 7 March 1970) is an English and producer known for her versatile performances across independent cinema, blockbusters, and theatre. She rose to international prominence with her portrayal of Evelyn Carnahan in the action-adventure film The Mummy (1999) and its sequel (2001), establishing her as a leading in both commercial and critically acclaimed projects. Born in to a Hungarian-Jewish mechanical engineer father and an Austrian-Jewish psychoanalyst mother, Weisz grew up in and attended before studying English literature at . She began modeling at age 14 and, during her university years, co-founded the theatre company Talking Tongues, which earned the Student Drama Award for her play Slight Possession at the 1991 . She made her professional stage debut in 1992 and transitioned to television and film in the mid-1990s, appearing in early roles such as in Stealing Beauty (1996) and Chain Reaction (1996). Weisz's career highlights include critically praised performances in Enemy at the Gates (2001), About a Boy (2002), and The Fountain (2006), but she achieved major recognition for her role as Tessa Quayle in The Constant Gardener (2005), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture, and received a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She received a second Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Lady Sarah in The Favourite (2018). On stage, she earned the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress for portraying Blanche DuBois in a 2009 revival of A Streetcar Named Desire. More recently, Weisz starred in and produced the psychological thriller miniseries Dead Ringers (2023), earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Limited Series; in 2025, she is set to reprise her role as Evelyn Carnahan in a new installment of The Mummy franchise.

Early life and education

Family background

Rachel Weisz was born on 7 March 1970 in London, England, to George Weisz, a Hungarian-Jewish mechanical engineer and inventor, and Edith Ruth Teich, an Austrian-Jewish psychoanalyst who had initially trained as a teacher. Both parents immigrated to Britain as children fleeing Nazi persecution in the late 1930s; George, born in Budapest in 1929, escaped with his mother and sisters in 1939 just before the outbreak of World War II, while Edith, born in Vienna in 1932, arrived around 1938 from Austria. George Weisz died on 31 March 2020, and Edith Ruth Weisz died on 2 March 2016. Weisz has one sibling, a younger sister named , born in December 1972, who works as a , , and visual artist. The family lived a middle-class life in , , where the intellectual environment was shaped by her parents' professional pursuits and their emphasis on debate and the arts at home. This creative family influence contributed to Weisz's early interest in .

Childhood and schooling

Rachel Weisz was raised in a secular Jewish household in London's , where her parents' Central European roots provided exposure to Hungarian and German as languages of their childhoods. Her father, George Weisz, a Hungarian-born mechanical engineer and inventor of medical devices, ensured socioeconomic stability for the family following their relocation from Westminster shortly after her birth in 1970. This immigrant heritage subtly fostered a sense of resilience in Weisz from an early age. Weisz attended , a prestigious private boarding institution for girls located in , as part of her . The school's environment contributed to her formative years, blending academic rigor with opportunities for personal development in a supportive setting away from home. From childhood, Weisz pursued lessons, which honed her discipline and appreciation for the arts. Her interest in performing was sparked through school plays, notably a non-speaking walk-on role as a dodo in a production of Alice in Wonderland at age 10, an experience that ignited her early fascination with theater in a household that valued music and creativity.

University years

In 1988, Rachel Weisz enrolled at University, to pursue a degree in English literature, which she completed in 1992 with upper second-class honours. During her undergraduate years, she balanced academic pursuits, including a dissertation on the works of , with emerging interests in performance. Her family had long encouraged artistic endeavors, providing a supportive backdrop for her explorations in drama. Weisz's entry into acting began early in her university tenure, with her debut role as a Saxon slave girl in a student production of Howard Brenton's The Romans in Britain. This marked the start of her involvement in Cambridge's vibrant theatre scene, where she honed her skills through various improvisational and experimental works. In 1989, while still a student, she co-founded the Talking Tongues theatre company with Sacha Hails, focusing on innovative, boundary-pushing performances. The group gained recognition in 1991 when their production of the improvised piece Slight Possession, written by Weisz, won the Guardian Student Drama Award at the , establishing early professional networks and showcasing Weisz's talents in acting, directing, and producing. Throughout her student life, Weisz continued part-time modeling, a pursuit she had begun at age 14, which occasionally intersected with her academic and theatrical commitments by providing financial flexibility and exposure in London's fashion circles. These modeling gigs, including features in publications like Harper's & Queen, complemented her university routine without derailing her focus on and . Immediately following her graduation in 1992, Weisz secured her first television role as Sarah Thompson in the legal Advocates II, a brief but pivotal appearance that bridged her student forays into professional acting.

Career

1990s breakthrough

Weisz entered professional acting in the early , making her television debut as Arabella Baydon in the "Twilight of the Gods" episode of the ITV series in 1993. She supplemented her early career with modeling work, which provided financial support while she pursued acting opportunities. Concurrently, she engaged in stage productions, including a role in Slightly Blind at the Royal Court Theatre, as well as leading performances in the West End during 1995. In 1995, Weisz starred as Gilda in the revival of Noël Coward's at the , later transferring to the . That same year, she portrayed Catherine Holly in ' at the Comedy Theatre, earning praise for her intense dramatic presence. Weisz transitioned to film with her debut in Bernardo Bertolucci's (1996), where she played the lead role of Lucy Harmon, an American teenager exploring her family's Tuscan villa. Later that year, she appeared in the action thriller (1996) alongside , marking her entry into Hollywood productions. In 1997, she took on a more prominent dramatic role as Amy Foster in , an adaptation of Conrad's novella directed by . Her breakthrough to international prominence arrived with the role of the intelligent and adventurous librarian Evelyn "Evy" Carnahan in The Mummy (1999), directed by , which became a global box-office success, grossing over $415 million worldwide. The film's adventurous tone and Weisz's spirited performance as the love interest to Brendan Fraser's helped establish her as a leading actress in action-adventure cinema. During the same period, she filmed her role as Soviet sniper Tania in Jean-Jacques Annaud's (2001), shot primarily in 1999, further showcasing her ability to handle intense historical dramas.

2000s acclaim

In the early 2000s, Rachel Weisz solidified her status as a versatile leading actress by balancing high-profile blockbusters with challenging independent dramas, earning widespread critical acclaim for her depth and range. She reprised her role as the intrepid Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan/ in the sequel (2001), directed by , which grossed over $433 million worldwide and showcased her action-heroine prowess alongside . Weisz simultaneously pursued edgier independent projects that highlighted her dramatic intensity. In (2001), directed by , she played , a Soviet and resistance fighter entangled in a deadly duel during the , delivering a performance noted for its emotional grit amid the film's historical tension. She followed with (2003), Neil LaBute's adaptation of his own play, where she portrayed the enigmatic art student Evelyn Ann Thompson, whose manipulative relationship with a shy classmate explored themes of transformation and deception. That same year, in (2003), a based on John Grisham's novel and directed by , Weisz embodied Marlee, a cunning outsider who attempts to sway a high-stakes manufacturer trial by leveraging her influence over juror Nick Easter (). Her supernatural turn came in Constantine (2005), directed by , as the determined LAPD detective Angela Dodson (and her twin Isabel), who enlists occult expert (Keanu Reeves) to unravel demonic forces behind her sister's death. The decade's pinnacle arrived with Weisz's Academy Award-winning portrayal of Tessa Quayle in (2005), directed by and adapted from John le Carré's 2001 novel. As the idealistic activist wife of a British diplomat (), Tessa uncovers a pharmaceutical conspiracy exploiting communities for drug testing, a role that demanded raw vulnerability and moral fervor; Weisz won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at the in 2006. The film's production in profoundly impacted the cast and crew, inspiring the establishment of the Constant Gardener Trust in 2005, a UK-registered charity that supported local communities through medical aid, sanitation projects, and initiatives in and beyond. Weisz's later 2000s output further demonstrated her genre-spanning appeal. In (2006), directed by —whose personal relationship with Weisz influenced their collaboration—she starred opposite in a nonlinear tale of love, mortality, and spanning centuries, from 16th-century conquistadors to futuristic space travel. She provided the voice of the dragon Saphira in the fantasy epic (2006), adapted from Christopher Paolini's novel and directed by . In Wong Kar-wai's (2007), her English-language debut, Weisz played Sue Lynne, a resilient bar owner entangled in a web of heartbreak and redemption. (2008), a con-artist caper directed by , featured her as the eccentric heiress Penelope Stem, whose childlike wonder drives the film's whimsical plot. Finally, in Alejandro Amenábar's historical drama (2009), Weisz portrayed the philosopher , a brilliant scholar navigating religious turmoil in ancient , earning praise for embodying intellectual defiance. Throughout the decade, Weisz's engagements remained limited, focusing instead on select voice work and smaller productions amid her film commitments.

2010s versatility

In the early , Rachel Weisz expanded her range through roles in intense dramas and interconnected narratives. In The Whistleblower (2010), she portrayed , a real-life UN peacekeeper who uncovers a sex-trafficking ring in post-war Bosnia, delivering a performance noted for its raw emotional depth and commitment to highlighting abuses. She followed this with 360 (2011), a globe-spanning drama directed by , where Weisz played a woman entangled in a web of and fleeting connections across cultures, showcasing her ability to convey subtle relational tensions. That same year, in Terence Davies' The Deep Blue Sea, Weisz embodied Hester Collyer, a woman torn between a stifling marriage and a passionate but destructive in post-World War II Britain, earning praise for her nuanced depiction of quiet desperation and inner turmoil. Weisz ventured into sci-fi and action with The Bourne Legacy (2012), playing Dr. Marta Shearing, a virologist thrust into a high-stakes chase alongside agent Aaron Cross (), marking her entry into blockbuster territory while maintaining a grounded, intelligent presence amid the franchise's thrills. This period also saw her return to theatre with her Broadway debut in Harold Pinter's Betrayal (2013), directed by , where she starred opposite her husband —whom she had married in 2011—as Emma, a navigating a complex told in , a role that highlighted her stage prowess and the couple's professional synergy. Mid-decade, Weisz embraced surreal and historical period pieces that underscored her versatility. In Yorgos Lanthimos' dystopian satire The Lobster (2015), she played a nameless "short-sighted woman" in a repressive society where singles must pair up or face transformation into animals, using subtle expressions and a distinctive voice to convey defiance and vulnerability. Her turn as historian Deborah Lipstadt in Denial (2016), a courtroom drama about a libel suit brought by Holocaust denier David Irving, captured the academic's fierce intellect and moral resolve during the high-profile trial. That year, in Complete Unknown, Weisz portrayed Alice, a shape-shifting enigmatic figure who reinvents her identity multiple times, exploring themes of reinvention and authenticity through a performance that blended mystery and emotional ambiguity. Weisz's late-2010s work featured prestige dramas delving into personal and societal conflicts. In Disobedience (2017), directed by Sebastián Lelio, she starred as Ronit Krushka, a returning to her Orthodox Jewish community in and rekindling a forbidden romance with her childhood friend Esti (), bringing sensitivity to the film's exploration of faith, desire, and exile. She then played Clare Crowhurst in The Mercy (2018), the devoted wife of amateur sailor (), whose ill-fated 1968 round-the-world voyage ends in tragedy, portraying a grappling with hope and heartbreak amid public scrutiny. Weisz capped the decade with her role as Lady Sarah Churchill in ' The Favourite (2018), a cunning maneuvering for power in Queen Anne's England, a performance that earned her the BAFTA Award for in a Supporting Role for its sharp wit and commanding presence. These roles across genres—from thrillers and satires to historical biopics and intimate dramas—affirmed Weisz's status as a multifaceted performer capable of anchoring both intimate character studies and ensemble-driven narratives.

2020s projects

In the early 2020s, Rachel Weisz expanded her presence in blockbuster franchises by portraying Melina Vostokoff, a widowed scientist and former Red Room operative, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Black Widow (2021), directed by Cate Shortland. Her character, based loosely on the comic book figure Iron Maiden, serves as a surrogate mother figure to Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova while employing advanced neuro-technology in espionage operations. Weisz continued her genre versatility with a supporting role as Sylvie, the poised and enigmatic wife of a , in the single-location crime thriller The Outfit (), directed by Graham Moore. Set in a 1950s tailor's shop, the film explores mob intrigue through tense confrontations, with Weisz's performance adding layers of subtle menace to the ensemble. A significant milestone came with the six-episode Prime Video miniseries Dead Ringers (2023), where Weisz starred as the identical twin gynecologists Elliot and Beverly Mantle in a gender-swapped adaptation of David Cronenberg's 1988 film. She also executive produced the series through her company , collaborating closely with showrunner from script development through production to infuse the narrative with themes of , identity, and obsession. The project earned critical acclaim for its psychological depth and Weisz's dual performance, highlighted by the series' 85% approval rating on . Weisz maintained high-profile visibility in the industry by attending the 81st Venice Film Festival in September 2024, appearing on the red carpet alongside her husband Daniel Craig for the premiere of Queer, directed by Luca Guadagnino, underscoring her ongoing engagement with prestigious international cinema events. By late 2025, Weisz was reportedly in negotiations to reprise her iconic role as Evelyn Carnahan in a fourth installment of The Mummy franchise at Universal Pictures, reuniting with Brendan Fraser as Rick O'Connell under the direction of the filmmaking collective Radio Silence. The project, produced by Sean Daniel and ignoring the events of the 2017 Tom Cruise-led reboot, aims to revive the original 1999 adventure's spirit with Weisz's character as a brilliant Egyptologist. Reflecting a growing emphasis on production, Weisz executive produced and starred in the Netflix limited series Vladimir (announced 2025), an adaptation of Julia May Jonas's novel about a professor's ethical dilemmas and obsessions, with production underway in Toronto and co-stars including Leo Woodall. This follows her 2024 first-look deal with Fremantle for Astral Projection, signaling her pivot toward developing female-led narratives across streaming and independent film.

Personal life

Relationships

Rachel Weisz has maintained a private personal life, rarely discussing her romantic relationships in public interviews. Weisz began dating filmmaker Darren Aronofsky in 2001 after meeting backstage at London's Almeida Theatre, where she starred in the play The Shape of Things. The couple became engaged in 2005 and welcomed a son, Henry, in 2006. Their relationship, which lasted nearly a decade, ended amicably in November 2010, with both parties citing a mutual decision to separate while emphasizing their commitment to co-parenting. Following her split from Aronofsky, Weisz rekindled a connection with actor , whom she had first met in the early 1990s as emerging talents in London's acting scene. They began dating in late 2010 after co-starring as a married couple in the film Dream House. The pair married in a private ceremony on June 22, 2011, in , attended by only four guests, including Weisz's son and Craig's daughter from a previous relationship. In 2018, they welcomed a daughter, further solidifying their family. Weisz and Craig have consistently prioritized privacy, avoiding joint red-carpet appearances and shielding their relationship from media scrutiny.

Family and residences

Weisz and her husband welcomed a , Grace, in 2018. The couple has maintained a low public profile for their child, rarely sharing details about her life or appearances. Weisz has emphasized the importance of shielding her from media scrutiny, describing family routines as ordinary and chaotic while prioritizing privacy over public exposure. Born a British citizen, Weisz acquired dual British-U.S. citizenship in 2011, the same year she married Craig, to secure her residency status amid frequent international travel. The family primarily resides in , where they raise their daughter, but they split time between the U.K. and the U.S. to accommodate their careers. In New York, they own properties including a condo in the East Village purchased in 2012 and a in Brooklyn's Cobble Hill acquired in 2018. Weisz approaches family life with a focus on work-life balance, often selecting roles that allow her to remain close to home and avoid prolonged absences. She has spoken about the challenges of managing stardom alongside parenthood, opting out of social media to preserve family boundaries. Her younger sister, Minnie Weisz, a visual artist and photographer, provides supportive family ties outside the entertainment industry, maintaining a close but private relationship.

Philanthropy and other work

Charitable causes

Weisz co-founded the Constant Gardener Trust in 2006, following her Academy Award-winning role in the film , to provide ongoing support to Kenyan communities impacted by poverty and unethical pharmaceutical practices depicted in the story. The trust has focused on , healthcare, and economic development initiatives in regions like and Loiyangalani, with Weisz contributing through fundraising events and personal donations, including auctioning a diamond necklace at the film's premiere to raise initial funds. The Constant Gardener Trust, while founded in 2006, has had minimal activity in recent years. In collaboration with since 2005, Weisz has advocated for poverty alleviation and in , drawing from her research with the organization for , where she consulted field workers on refugee camps and aid challenges. Her involvement includes participating in Oxfam campaigns against waste, such as donating clothing to their 2019 Second Hand September event to promote sustainable practices and support global equity programs. Weisz has been a supporter of , contributing to research and awareness through donations like a designer handbag to their 2009 Handbag Amnesty , which raised funds for clinical trials and patient care advancements. She has also lent her voice to the Pediatric Epilepsy Project, participating in awareness campaigns to fund research on childhood treatments and reduce stigma around the condition. In 2015, Weisz was honored by the Opportunity Network at their Power of Women event for her advocacy in youth employment programs, helping connect under-resourced young adults to career opportunities in creative industries through mentorship and networking initiatives. She continues to champion the Opportunity Network, serving as a supporter for their 2025 gala promoting youth employment. In 2023, Weisz attended the Clooney Foundation for Justice's Albie Awards to support global human rights efforts. Her commitments emphasize sustained awareness and financial support rather than operational leadership, reflecting a pattern of tying philanthropy to themes from her film roles.

Modeling and endorsements

Weisz began her modeling career at the age of 14, winning a competition that led to appearances in teenage magazines; to secure gigs, she lied about her height, claiming to be 5 feet 7 inches tall. She was represented by the London-based agency Independent Models. This early work allowed her to earn money independently, helping fund her education. In 2010, Weisz was named a global ambassador for , promoting the brand's skincare and beauty lines worldwide, including the anti-aging Revitalift series. She has also served as a muse for designer , often wearing his minimalist designs at high-profile events. After 2010, Weisz scaled back her modeling commitments to prioritize acting, though she made occasional appearances on magazine covers, such as the April 2006 issue of British Vogue.

Filmography

Film roles

Weisz made her feature film debut in Bernardo Bertolucci's (1996), playing the lead role of Lucy Harmon. Her breakthrough came with the role of Evelyn Carnahan in the action-adventure The Mummy (1999), directed by , which grossed $417 million worldwide. She reprised the character as Evelyn Carnahan O'Connell in (2001), which earned $435 million globally. Weisz did not appear in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), in which Maria Bello played the role. Other notable early roles include in (2001) and Rachel in About a Boy (2002). In 2003, Weisz starred as Evelyn Ann Thompson in , for which she also served as a producer. She portrayed Marlee in the (2003). Weisz played Angela Dodson in the supernatural film Constantine (2005). Her performance as Tessa Quayle in (2005), directed by , earned her critical acclaim. Subsequent roles included Izzy Creo in (2006), Wanda in (2007), and Sue Lynne in (2007). In 2008, she starred as Penelope Martin in and Maya Hayes in . Weisz took on the role of Hypatia in the historical drama (2009). In the 2010s, she appeared as Kathryn Bolkovac in The Whistleblower (2010), Dr. Marta Shearing in The Bourne Legacy (2012), and Evanora in Oz the Great and Powerful (2013). She played the Short Sighted Woman in The Lobster (2015) and Lena Ballinger in Youth (2015). Roles in 2016 included Hannah Roettiger in The Light Between Oceans and Deborah Lipstadt in Denial. Weisz starred as Rachel in My Cousin Rachel (2017) and as Ronit Krushka in Disobedience (2017), the latter for which she also served as a producer. In 2018, she portrayed Ruth First in The Mercy and Lady Sarah in The Favourite. Weisz played Melina Vostokoff in the Marvel film Black Widow (2021), which grossed $379 million worldwide. Her role as Ruth in the crime thriller The Outfit (2022) followed. As of November 2025, Weisz is in talks to reprise Evelyn O'Connell in a fourth installment of The Mummy franchise, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. She is also attached to star in upcoming projects including Vladimir and Seance on a Wet Afternoon.
YearTitleRoleNotes
1996Lucy HarmonFeature debut
1996Dr. Lily Sinclair
1997BentSarah
1998Helen
1999The MummyEvelyn Carnahan$417M worldwide gross
2000Beautiful CreaturesToni
2001
2001Evelyn Carnahan O'Connell$435M worldwide gross
2002About a BoyRachel
2003Evelyn Ann ThompsonAlso producer
2003Marlee
2003Lily
2004Debbie Dingman
2005ConstantineAngela Dodson / Isabel Dodson
2005Tessa Quayle
2006Saphira (voice)
2006Izzy Creo
2007Wanda
2007Sue Lynne
2008Maya Hayes
2008Penelope Martin
2009
2009Abigail Salmon
2010The Whistleblower
2011360Rose
2011The Deep Blue SeaHester Collyer
2012The Bourne LegacyDr. Marta Shearing
2013Evanora
2015Short Sighted Woman
2015Lena Ballinger
2016Hannah Roettiger
2016Alice Manning
2016
2017Rachel
2017DisobedienceRonit KrushkaAlso producer
2018
2018Lady Sarah
2021Black WidowMelina Vostokoff$379M worldwide gross
2022The OutfitRuth
TBAThe Mummy (upcoming)Evelyn O'ConnellIn development; in talks to reprise role
TBATBAIn development
TBASeance on a Wet AfternoonMyra SavageIn development; starring role

Television roles

Weisz began her television career with a supporting role as Sarah Thompson in the British miniseries Advocates II, which aired on BBC One in 1992 and marked her first credited acting appearance on screen. In 1993, she had guest roles in two notable British productions: appearing as Arabella Baydon, a young socialite, in the Inspector Morse episode "Twilight of the Gods" on ITV, a mystery series known for its intellectual depth. She also portrayed Mathilde de La Mole, the rebellious daughter of a nobleman, in the BBC's four-part adaptation Scarlet and Black, a period drama based on Stendhal's novel that explored ambition and social climbing in 19th-century France. After focusing primarily on film and theatre in the intervening decades, Weisz returned to television in a major capacity with the 2023 Amazon Prime Video miniseries Dead Ringers, a psychological thriller reimagining David Cronenberg's 1988 film. In it, she played the dual lead roles of identical twin gynecologists Elliot and Beverly Mantle, delivering performances noted for their intensity and nuance as the sisters navigate codependency, professional ambition, and ethical boundaries in a high-stakes medical world; Weisz also served as an executive producer on the six-episode limited series. That same year, she lent her voice to the character of Melina Vostokoff, a rogue scientist, in the Marvel animated series What If...? Season 2, Episode 5, expanding her Marvel Cinematic Universe role from the 2021 film Black Widow. Weisz's television work remains selective, emphasizing prestige miniseries and voice roles over recurring series, complementing her extensive filmography without dominating it.

Theatre roles

Weisz began her acting career in theatre during her time at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where she co-founded the student company Talking Tongues in 1989; the group won a Guardian Student Drama Award at the 1991 Edinburgh Festival Fringe for their production of Slight Possession, serving as an early training ground for her stage craft. Her professional breakthrough came in 1994 with the role of the vivacious Gilda in a revival of Noël Coward's , directed by at the in ; the production transferred to the in 1995, where Weisz's performance earned her the for Most Promising Newcomer. Weisz continued with intimate revivals at the , starring as the tormented Catherine Holly in Tennessee Williams's in 1999, a role that showcased her ability to convey psychological fragility amid themes of and repressed trauma. In the early 2000s, she took on the manipulative art student Evelyn in Neil LaBute's , which premiered at London's in 2001 opposite before transferring to off-Broadway's Promenade Theatre in 2003; the play's exploration of power dynamics in relationships highlighted Weisz's command of subtle emotional escalation. Weisz's return to the stage in the late 2000s and 2010s focused on high-profile revivals of classic works. At the in 2009, she delivered a critically lauded performance as the vulnerable yet resilient in Tennessee Williams's , directed by and Rebecca Gatward, transforming the iconic role with a raw, multifaceted intensity. In 2013, Weisz made her Broadway debut in the revival of Harold Pinter's at the , playing the conflicted Emma opposite her husband as Robert and as Jerry; directed by , the reverse-chronological production of the 1978 drama about ran for a sold-out limited engagement of 117 performances, emphasizing Weisz's precise delivery of Pinter's pauses and subtext.

Awards and nominations

Major awards

Rachel Weisz has received several major awards for her performances in film and theatre, highlighting her versatility and critical acclaim across mediums. For her portrayal of Quayle, a principled activist in the 2005 thriller , Weisz won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the in 2006, recognizing her nuanced depiction of moral conviction amid personal tragedy. She also secured the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for the same role at the in 2006, praised for bringing emotional depth to a character driven by humanitarian ideals. Additionally, Weisz earned the Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for at the 12th Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2006, underscoring the ensemble's impact in exposing global injustices. In 2019, Weisz received further accolades for her role as Sarah Churchill in the historical comedy-drama , where she embodied a cunning and ambitious courtier. She won the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress at the , marking her first win from the organization and celebrating her sharp, layered performance in a tale of power and rivalry. On stage, Weisz's return to theatre garnered prestigious recognition for her interpretation of in the 2009 revival of Tennessee Williams's at the . She won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress at the 2010 ceremony, lauded for capturing the character's fragility and desperation with profound intensity.

Other recognitions

Weisz received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Tessa Quayle in The Constant Gardener (2005). She earned a second nomination in the same category for her role as Lady Sarah in The Favourite (2018). For her dual performance as the Mantle twins in the 2023 Prime Video miniseries Dead Ringers, Weisz received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television. She won the Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television for Dead Ringers at the 28th Satellite Awards in 2024. The series also won a Peabody Award in the Entertainment category in 2024. Early in her career, Weisz was recognized with the European Film Promotion (EFP) Shooting Star award at the 1998 , highlighting emerging European talent. In recognition of her lifetime achievements, Weisz was awarded an honorary by in 2024. Over her three-decade career, Weisz has accumulated 103 award nominations across major industry ceremonies and critics' groups.

References

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