Rachel Weisz biography, age, husband, daughter, young photos, net worth 2025

Rachel Weisz Biography

Actress Rachel Weisz, the beautiful and tragic Hypatia from "Agora" and the conflicted Tessa from "The Constant Gardener," won audiences worldwide in the early 2000s playing Evelyn in "The Mummy" and has been repeatedly named one of the most beautiful women on the planet – someone who seems to grow more captivating with age.

Childhood

Rachel Hannah Weisz, the eldest daughter of George and Edith Weisz, was born March 7, 1970, in Westminster. The actress spent her childhood in Hampstead, where she completed primary school before enrolling at the prestigious St Paul's School.

Little girl, close-up face, open mouth, black and white photo — Rachel Weisz as a child

Rachel grew up in a well-off Jewish family. Her father George was a technical engineer whose parents had emigrated to England from Hungary before World War II began, while her mother worked as a psychotherapist with Austrian Jewish and Italian heritage.

George Weisz practiced Judaism, while Edith was Catholic. As a result, they raised Rachel and her younger sister Minnie to respect all religious traditions, instilling in the girls the freedom to make their own choices.

Black and white photo of a young girl dressed in a school uniform — Rachel Weisz at 14

This liberal upbringing and complete trust from her parents shaped the actress's character, fostering her drive for independence from an early age. In 1984, Rachel won a beauty contest in North London and attracted attention by turning down agents' offers to audition for a role in "King David," starring Richard Gere.

This decision landed young Weisz in the British press, which didn't hold back with comments like "not very bright girl missed her chance." Years later, the actress would reveal she was simply too scared to audition because she didn't see herself as an actor back then.

Group photo of students, in the center of the photo – young Rachel Weisz — Rachel Weisz during her years at Trinity College

At Trinity College, Rachel discovered her passion for theater and participated in many Cambridge Talking Tongues productions. In 1991, the troupe, which included Rachel's university friends Sacha Baron Cohen and Ben Miller, won a prize at the Edinburgh Festival.

First Roles

In 1993, Rachel earned her bachelor's degree in English literature and made her television debut with episodes of "Advocates" and "Inspector Morse." In the TV movie "The Scarlet and the Black," Rachel starred alongside Ewan McGregor and Christopher Fulford, who played her suitors.

A shot from the movie 'The Scarlet and the Black'

Rachel's first big-screen appearance was a minor role in 1994's "Death Machine," but her very next film gave her a starring part.

A close-up of Rachel Weisz's face, she has bright red lipstick and a ring in her eyebrow — Rachel Weisz in the film "Death Machine"

In "Chain Reaction," the young actress played student Lily, who makes a world-changing discovery with her friend Eddie. Keanu Reeves took on Eddie's role, while Morgan Freeman played the young scientists' mentor. The film found success partly thanks to the young and strikingly beautiful Weisz and Reeves, but Rachel's next project would establish her as one of the most talented young actresses of her generation.

Young Rachel Weisz is sitting in the bathtub in her clothes, next to her sits young Keanu Reeves — A shot from the film "Chain Reaction"

"Stealing Beauty," directed by none other than Bernardo Bertolucci, hit theaters in 1996. Rachel faced a challenging task, as the lead role of orphaned Lucy went to twenty-year-old Liv Tyler, whose youth and embodiment of beauty were absolutely stunning. Rachel's character was Miranda Fox, the daughter of Lucy's mother's friend.

A joint photo of Rachel Weisz and Liv Tyler with a sepia filter — Rachel Weisz and Liv Tyler in the film "Stealing Beauty"

Critics praised Weisz's performance highly, and offers started pouring in. But she remained extremely selective, consistently choosing complex, challenging characters. Between 1997 and 1999, Rachel appeared in several films, with her most significant work being the dramas "Bent" and "The Land Girls" and the thriller "I Want You."

Career Peak

Weisz's role as Evelyn in the spectacular blockbusters "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns," where she starred opposite Brendan Fraser, is rightfully considered one of her most beloved performances by fans.

Weisz's character – Evelyn O'Connell, a quiet librarian and bookworm who dreams of adventure, knows Egyptian history, and can read ancient manuscripts. In this role, Rachel managed to showcase not only her acting chops but also her intelligence. And those kisses with Fraser? They left audiences breathless!

Close-up of actress Rachel Weisz's face — Rachel Weisz in "The Mummy"

Weisz played Evelyn in the first two "Mummy" films, but she was notably absent from the third installment that hit screens in 2008. Years later, Weisz revealed the real reason behind her departure. Turns out, she never even got the chance to read the script. She'd just wrapped "The Brothers Bloom" and was already committed to another project, so she simply didn't have the time. Plus, the third "Mummy" was set to film in China, and Weisz had recently become a mom – leaving her son for at least six months just wasn't an option.

"The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" received terrible reviews from critics and audiences alike, with Weisz's absence being cited as one of the main reasons for the film's poor reception.

How did Rachel's career unfold outside the adventure franchise? The 2000 comedy-thriller "Beautiful Creatures" was memorable for the dynamic between Weisz and Susan Lynch, whose characters decide to make their lives easier by getting rid of their boyfriends.

Playing a Russian woman in the complex war drama "Enemy at the Gates," which interpreted events from the Battle of Stalingrad, the actress looked completely at home. Critics praised her versatile appearance, though they slammed the film's historical inaccuracies. Jude Law played the shepherd-turned-Soviet Army sniper, while Joseph Fiennes took on the role of the commissar.

Weisz worked with Hugh Grant in the touching drama "About a Boy," playing a single mother. The film won multiple awards and was named the best film of 2002.

In "Runaway Jury," a drama focusing on gun control issues and government lobbying for weapons companies, Weisz had the chance to work alongside Gene Hackman. The film also starred Dustin Hoffman and John Cusack.

2005 is considered one of the most successful years in her career, primarily because of the Oscar she won for her role as Tessa in the detective thriller "The Constant Gardener." Weisz's character's husband was played by Ralph Fiennes.

That same year saw the release of the legendary horror film "Constantine," where the actress reunited on set with Keanu Reeves. In the film, Rachel played dual roles as both a police detective and her sister, whose death she's trying to solve. Tilda Swinton dazzled as the archangel Gabriel, while Peter Stormare transformed into Lucifer. The film was hailed as a genre bestseller and the most commercially successful project of the film season.

Rachel Weisz and Keanu Reeves sitting on the floor next to each other — Scene from "Constantine"

From 2006 to 2011, the actress appeared in films including "The Fountain", "My Blueberry Nights," "The Brothers Bloom," and others.

Rachel's role in the detective drama "The Lovely Bones" particularly stands out from this period, where she played the mother of a murdered girl (Saoirse Ronan). Despite the harsh subject matter – pedophilia – the film, according to the actress, wasn't depressing: "Despite the tragedy, there's hope and optimism in this story."

Close-up of actress Rachel Weisz's face shot through car glass in the rain — Rachel Weisz in "The Lovely Bones"

In Alejandro Amenábar's "Agora," which church leaders called anti-Christian, the actress played Hypatia, who suffered because of her thirst for knowledge.

Scene from "Agora" featuring Rachel Weisz

The actress worked alongside Vanessa Redgrave and David Strathairn in the biographical thriller "The Whistleblower." In the political detective drama "Page Eight," Rachel's partner was Bill Nighy, and in the horror film "Dream House" – Daniel Craig.

Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig in "Dream House"

In "The Deep Blue Sea," Weisz worked with Tom Hiddleston and made a powerful impact with her subtle, nervous, and sensual performance, which earned her the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress.

The actress's subsequent work consistently proved triumphant on the acting front, including her role as Dr. Shearing in the thriller "The Bourne Legacy," her role as Lena in "Youth," and of course, her role as Hannah in the 2016 drama "The Light Between Oceans," who lost and found her child thanks to the nobility of Michael Fassbender's character, who sacrificed personal happiness and freedom for the sake of justice.

In 2017, "Disobedience" was released, telling the story of a tragedy that unfolds in an Orthodox Jewish community whose members discover the love between two women, one of whom was played by Weisz. Rachel McAdams played her lover.

In the film "The Mercy," released in early 2018, the actress played the wife of a businessman who risked embarking on a solo round-the-world yacht voyage to save his company from bankruptcy. This role went to Colin Firth.

Photos from the filming of the movie The Mercy

The drama by Yorgos Lanthimos, "The Favourite," which became one of the brightest events in cinema, was predicted to win in several Oscar categories. Rachel Weisz was nominated for the award as Best Supporting Actress (but the statuette went to Regina King for her role in "If Beale Street Could Talk"). However, she did win the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress.

Rachel as Lady Marlborough in the movie The Favourite

In the film, Rachel played Lady Marlborough, and her partners in this story of dark court secrets and intrigue were Joe Alwyn and Emma Stone, while Olivia Colman transformed into Queen Anne, ultimately winning the Oscar for Best Actress.

Rachel Weisz in the bath making herself a mustache out of dirt — Frame from the movie "The Favourite"

In 2021, audiences saw Rachel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film "Black Widow," starring Scarlett Johansson. In this movie, which explored Natasha Romanoff's past, Weisz appeared as Melina Vostokoff. In the comics that inspired the film, this character was Black Widow's antagonist, but the movie changed everything. She's a former Black Widow who later became a leading scientist for the Red Room.

Actress Rachel Weisz with her hair tied back in a ponytail, wearing a black superhero costume — Rachel Weisz in the movie "Black Widow"

In April 2023, the series "Dead Ringers" premiered on Amazon Prime Video, where Rachel Weisz had the lead role – or rather, two lead roles: she played twin gynecologists Elliot and Beverly Mantle, who have a complicated relationship.

Two Rachel Weisz in white coats — In the series "Dead Ringers" Rachel Weisz played twins

This is a remake of David Cronenberg's cult 1988 film. The idea to reboot the story with female characters came from Weisz herself. She served as executive producer on the project and personally pitched her concept to Amazon Studios. She was inspired by Cronenberg's original film but wanted to reimagine it through a "female lens," especially in the context of reproductive technology and women's health.

Dead Ringers | Official Trailer | Prime Video

Weisz called this work one of the most challenging in her career, as she had to play two characters with different personalities and dynamics. She was drawn to the opportunity to deeply explore female characters in medicine, showing their professional ambitions, personal tragedies, and obsession with each other. The actress says she's proud of the final result: the series turned out provocative, dark, but very emotional and important.

Rachel Weisz's Personal Life

The famous British actress's first love was Darren Aronofsky. They met backstage at London's Almeida Theatre and started dating in 2001. He proposed in 2005. Rachel moved to New York for him and gave birth to their son Henry in May 2006.

They worked together on "The Fountain" (2005), with Aronofsky directing and Weisz playing one of the central characters. During production, they lived apart to maintain strictly professional relationships. Rachel recalled that Aronofsky "was so busy at work that he only had time to be a director. He didn't have time to be my boyfriend."

However, their relationship only grew stronger after working together, despite a steamy scene between Rachel and Hugh Jackman, which the actor later described:

There was a scene where I had to fall into a bathtub with Rachel. I was fully clothed, and we started kissing, which was supposed to be the end of the scene. Darren, sitting no less than three yards away from us, didn't say 'cut,' but as true professionals we kept going until my pants started falling down, and then we started laughing. Darren yelled out, 'Why didn't you take his pants off, Rachel?' And she yelled back, 'Because I was embarrassed!'

They never actually had a wedding, though it seemed headed that way. After their engagement, Weisz shared that they planned to marry at New York's oldest synagogue and that Narciso Rodriguez would design her dress. In November 2009, Rachel told Redbook magazine that only death would separate her and Darren, and they didn't see the need for marriage. Exactly one year later, they called off their engagement. Their representatives confirmed that Darren and Rachel had been separated for several months but remained good friends and would co-parent their son together.

In an interview after the breakup, Rachel mentioned she'd probably never marry because she didn't believe she could find true love again. Despite her skepticism, love did find her in Daniel Craig, whom she'd known for years—since 1994, when they auditioned together for "Les Grandes Horizontales" at London's National Theatre Studio.

Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig pose together in front of the camera — Weisz and Craig had known each other for years

Romance sparked between the actors while working on "Dream House," and in summer 2011, before the film even hit theaters, they got married.

In 2017, news began circulating that the actress was expecting, and it turned out to be true: their daughter Grace was born in fall 2018. Rachel was 48 when the girl was born, while Mr. Bond had already celebrated his fiftieth birthday.

Rachel Weisz in a burgundy dress full-length, clearly showing she's expecting a child — Pregnant Rachel Weisz

Rachel Weisz Now

In 2024, Weisz opened up to The New York Times about scaling back her screen time because of her young daughter:

I have a six-year-old at home, and I don't want to be away from home as much as I used to be.

In March 2025, it was announced that Weisz will executive produce and star in the upcoming Netflix limited series "Vladimir," based on Julia May Jonas' 2022 novel of the same name.

Rachel Weisz in a white and green sweater and Daniel Craig in a black leather jacket and colorful sweater holding hands — Rachel Weisz with her husband at Paris Fashion Week (September 2024)

The story follows a literature professor whose life unravels after her husband, a charismatic professor from the same department, faces accusations of inappropriate relationships with students. Things get complicated when young instructor Vladimir Vladinsky joins the faculty and becomes the object of the protagonist's obsession.

Gavin Jonathan Young

Whoa! Rachel Weisz starred in Constantine?? Wow, there`s Keanu Reeves in the title role, but I don`t remember her there.

2021-04-19 12:25:49
Mae Fitzgerald

I do not see anything appeasing in the appearance of this girl. She`s ordinary, just like millions of other girls...

2021-04-01 11:49:14
Evan Wyatt Cook

I liked Rachel`s mummy movies! And the films themselves are not bad :)

2021-03-22 10:26:41
Rhonda Anderson

In the movie «Stealing Beauty» Weisz is incredible. This actress is very talented, smart and beautiful!

2021-03-06 11:44:34
William Farmer

Incredible beauty girl Rachel Weisz. No wonder she was repeatedly called one of the most beautiful women on the planet.

2021-02-26 16:17:52

Photos: Rachel Weisz