Rachel Skarsten

Rachel Alice Marie Skarsten was born on April 23, 1985, in Toronto, Ontario. Her early life included extensive training in dance, studying with the Royal Academy of Dance for twelve years and earning her Elementary Level with distinction in 1999. Following an ankle injury that ended her dancing career, Skarsten transitioned to sports, notably playing competitive female hockey as a goalie for the Leaside Wildcats in Toronto. In 2002, she achieved a significant milestone by winning the Toronto City Championships in a shootout. Later, she pursued higher education, graduating from Earl Haig Secondary School as an Ontario Scholar and completing a double major in English Literature and Classical History at Queen’s University, Canada.

Skarsten’s acting career began in 1998, with one of her first notable film roles being Caroline Lofton in “Virginia’s Run” (2002). At the age of 16, she secured a major role as superhero Black Canary/Dinah Lance in the WB series “Birds of Prey” (2002-2003), a breakthrough that garnered significant recognition. After a temporary hiatus from acting to focus on her education, she returned to the screen with recurring roles in series such as “Flashpoint,” “The Listener,” and “The LA Complex.” A significant turning point in her career was portraying Tamsin in the supernatural crime drama “Lost Girl” (2010-2016), solidifying her presence in television.

Her career continued to advance with key roles in major productions. In film, she appeared as Andrea in “Fifty Shades of Grey” (2015) and Leah in Aaron Sorkin’s “Molly’s Game” (2017). On television, Skarsten gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in the CW series “Reign” (2015-2017) and later as Poppy Langmore in the second season of Bravo’s “Imposters” (2018). From 2019 to 2022, she played the main antagonist Alice/Beth Kane in “Batwoman,” further establishing her versatility and presence in the superhero genre.