Rachel Weisz
A British actress of formidable intellect and poise, equally commanding in period dramas, cerebral thrillers, and blockbuster adventures.
Born 1970 (age 56)·British actress·Birthday: March 7·Generation X
Biography
Rachel Weisz possesses a rare combination of classical beauty and fierce intelligence, which she channels into performances that are both luminous and substantial. After studying at Cambridge, she began her career on the British stage and in television, but it was her dual role in the 1999 adventure "The Mummy" that brought her international fame. Rather than be typecast, Weisz used that visibility as a springboard for a daring and eclectic filmography. She gravitated toward complex, often morally ambiguous women in films like "The Constant Gardener," for which she won an Academy Award, and "The Lobster." A dedicated stage actress, she has also delivered powerful performances in Broadway and West End revivals, winning a Laurence Olivier Award. Whether embodying a Victorian detective in "The Brothers Bloom," a passionate activist, or a mythic goddess, Weisz brings a grounded intensity and a sharp mind to every character, making her one of the most respected actors of her generation.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Rachel was born in 1970, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rachel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Rachel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 50
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 56 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as a passionate activist in 'The Constant Gardener' (2005).
- She won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress for her performance as Blanche DuBois in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' on the London stage.
- She starred as Evie Carnahan in 'The Mummy' franchise, a role that made her a household name and launched her Hollywood career.
- She received a British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) for her leading role in the psychological thriller 'The Deep Blue Sea' (2011).
Did You Know?
She read English literature at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where she was a member of the famous Cambridge Footlights drama club.
She and her husband, actor Daniel Craig, are both the same height (5'7").
She turned down the role of Bond girl Vesper Lynd in 'Casino Royale' before later marrying James Bond actor Daniel Craig.
She is a published author, having written the introduction to a 2005 edition of Virginia Woolf's 'The Waves.'
“"I'm interested in women who aren't victims, who don't feel sorry for themselves."”
