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Rachel Luttrell | |
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| Born | Rachel Zawadi Luttrell (1971-01-19)19 January 1971 (age 54) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Erica Luttrell (sister) |
Rachel Zawadi Luttrell (/ˈlʌtrəl/LUTT-rel; born January 19, 1971) is a Canadian actress, best known for her role asTeyla Emmagan inStargate Atlantis (2004–2009).
Luttrell was born on January 19, 1971,[1] inDar Es Salaam,Tanzania,[2] the daughter of Veronica Makihio Shenkunde Luttrell[3] of theWashambala tribe of theUsambara Mountains, and William Leon Luttrell[3], a white doctor fromBossier City,Louisiana. She is one of four daughters.[3] Her family emigrated toCanada when she was five years old,[2] and she was raised inToronto.[2] Her family has several musical roots; her father, a former member of the critically acclaimedToronto Mendelssohn Choir, trained Luttrell's soprano voice. She studied ballet at the Russian Academy of Classical Ballet School[4] and also studied piano atThe Royal Conservatory of Music inToronto.[2][4]
Luttrell made her professional debuts in Canada's premier production ofMiss Saigon inToronto, and as the Enchantress in the Canadian production ofDisney'sBeauty and the Beast. She would go on to appear in many other stage productions, such asOnce On This Island,Goblin Market, and the first production ofPulitzer Prize–winning playwrightLynn Nottage'sLas Meninas.[1]
Following a move toLos Angeles, Luttrell became frustrated with some of the minor roles that were offered to her at the time,[4] and considered giving up on her acting career to enroll at theUCLA to studyarchitecture.[5] She ventured to theUK instead and studied at the British American Drama Association on a midsummer course atBalliol College,Oxford.[5]
In 2004, Luttrell was cast in a main role as Athosian warrior-leaderTeyla Emmagan[2] onStargate Atlantis.[4] She remained in this role until the end of the series in 2009.[2][4] HerAtlantis co-starDavid Hewlett cast her in the Canadian movieA Dog's Breakfast, which he directed.[1]
In 2011, Luttrell ventured into jazz music, releasing her first albumI Wish You Love, produced byGerrit Kinkel and featuringdouble bass playerJennifer Leitham, Graham Dechter, Konrad Paszkudzki and drummerJeff Hamilton.[5]
Luttrell married Loyd Bateman, a former stunt performer, in 2007;[6][2] they have two children together, a son, Caden, born in 2007,[5] and a daughter, Ridley, born in 2012.[5] They divorced in 2021. Luttrell has two younger sisters,Erica Luttrell,[3] who is also an actress, and Amanda Luttrell Garrigus,[3] who is an on-air personality in the fashion and entertainment worlds.[citation needed]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Courage | Bobby's Daughter | TV film |
| 1992 | Personal Effects | Short film | |
| 1995 | House | ||
| 1996 | Joe's So Mean to Josephine | Girl in Bar | |
| 2001 | Feast of All Saints | Lisette | TV film |
| 2001 | Impostor | Scan Room Nurse | |
| 2003 | Everyday Use | Dee | |
| 2004 | Stop Thief! | Nicky | Short film |
| 2005 | The Aviary | Portia | |
| 2007 | A Dog's Breakfast | Ratcha | |
| 2009 | Hardwired | Candace | |
| 2019 | Zombieland: Double Tap | Terrified Woman in Snow |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–1993 | Street Legal | Veronica Beck | 20 episodes |
| 1992 | Forever Knight | Officer Norma Alves | "Hunters" |
| 1993 | Maniac Mansion | Lorrie | "Tina and the Teardrops" |
| 1995 | The Great Defender | Reporter | "Naked Truth", "Camille" |
| 1997 | Dogs | Mimi | "1.1" |
| 1997 | In the House | Daphne | "The Cruise: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1998 | Damon | Brenda | "Under Covers" |
| 1998 | Sleepwalkers | "Cassandra" | |
| 2001 | Charmed | Janna | "Exit Strategy" |
| 2001 | ER | Paramedic | "Rampage" |
| 2002 | Touched by an Angel | Marla | "The Sixteenth Minute" |
| 2004–2009 | Stargate Atlantis | Teyla Emmagan | 91 episodes |
| 2011 | True Justice | Lt. Humphreys | "Urban Warfare: Part 1" |
| 2011 | NCIS | Navy Lt. Cmmdr. Stephanie Mosner | "Sins of the Father" |
| 2013 | NCIS: Los Angeles | CIA Agent Yvette Lowell | "Big Brother" |
| 2015 | No Sleep Till 18 | Jill | "Everyone's Got an Opinion" |
| 2016 | Arrow | Rosie | "Code of Silence" |
| 2018 | Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce | Oona Falcone | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | The I-Land | Brooke | "The Dark Backward" |
| International | |
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| National | |