Rachael Leigh Cook and her younger brother Ben were raised by their father, Tom (a former stand-up comic) a social worker in the public school system, and a homemaker mother. Rachael began her career as a model at the age of ten, but around the time she was fourteen her modeling agency sent her to read for a short film entitled "26 Summer Street". From then on Rachael was hooked on acting, and there was no looking back for the brown-eyed girl from Minneapolis.
      The wheels started turning in favor of the five-foot-two Cook, when she nabbed the lead role in an anti-drug commercial in which, armed with a frying pan, she bashed her way through a kitchen - "This is your brain on drugs!" - to show the disastrous effects of heroin. Not surprisingly, Hollywood took note of this daring young thespian.
      The versatile actress, made her major film debut in "The Baby-Sitters Club", and from then on work continued steady with roles in such movies as "Living Out Loud", "Naked Man", "Carpool", and the independent features "The Bumblebee Flies Anyway", "The Hi-Line" and "All I Wanna Do". However, it was her role opposite Freddy Prinze Jr. in the box-office hit "She's All That" that people really started to take note of the doe-eyed beauty. Her fanbase was growing steadily.
      Her television work has included a starring role in "Country Justice" with George C. Scott, and appearances in "The Defenders" with Beau Bridges for Showtime, a two show arc on the hit show "Dawson's Creek", and the CBS mini-series "True Women".
      Without a doubt, Rachael Leigh Cook's versatility and charisma guarantees staying power. This is one young actress who will continue to entertain audiences for many years to come.
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