Rachel Bilson

Biography
Born in Los Angeles, California, in 1981, Rachelle Jade Bilson was always treated like a princess. Her older brothers and parents spoiled her from birth, and she grew up quite comfortably as a result. Throughout her childhood years, she learned how to wrap her older siblings and friends around her little finger, becoming that cute, sly girl that no one could help but love. In doing so, she proved she had a natural flair for dramatics even before hitting the stage or standing in front of a camera.

rachel bilson on the wrong guys
Her family encouraged her to put her attitude to use by becoming an actress and so, when she was 7 years old, Mr. and Mrs. Bilson helped their daughter land her first role in the film The Wrong Guys with comedian Louie Anderson. Rachel Bilson continued to audition for roles during her early years at Notre Dame High School. Through the recommendation of a close friend, she received a part in the seven-episode miniseries Human Target. The role was small, but it helped Rachel Bilson realize that acting was something she wanted to do full-time. Following graduation, she pursued this new passion and hired an agent, who helped get her foot in the door.

rachel bilson on once upon a mattress
Rachel Bilson's first high-profile gig was on stage in a production of Bye Bye Birdie. She figured prominently in the play and used the experience as a launching pad for two more theatrical productions: The Crucible and Once Upon a Mattress. She had landed a solid role on a fantasy series called It's True in 1998, but the show never took off because CBS couldn't find the financing to air it. Despite this letdown, Rachel Bilson continued to plug away and starred in a television commercial for Subway before finally coming into her own.
rachel bilson on the o.c.
Thanks to constant auditioning and a well-connected agent, Rachel Bilson reached new heights in 2003. She appeared in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and 8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter before landing the lead role in a short film called Unbroken.

Thanks to this exposure, Rachel Bilson was invited to attend an audition for FOX's potential new hit, The O.C. The show was aiming to target the same audience as previously successful shows like Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place. This was perfectly in line with Rachel Bilson's capabilities, whose youthful, vibrant personality and sexy look impressed the producers of The O.C. They cast her as Summer Roberts, best friend of Marissa Cooper (played by Mischa Barton) and spoiled beauty who personifies the "Valley Girl" stereotype.
rachel bilson in chuck
After the show's smashing debut in the summer of 2003, Rachel Bilson became a much-talked about new star and was featured in such magazines as Zink, Stuff, CosmoGirl, and YM. Thanks to the popularity of The O.C., the show lasted for four seasons before it came to an end. During the show's successful run, Rachel Bilson made Maxim magazine's Hot 100 List in '05 and '06. She was also named one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in 2006.



The O.C. wasn't the end of Rachel Bilson's budding television career. In 2007, she was cast in the highly anticipated prime-time comedy Chuck alongside actor Zachary Levi.

She also received a role in the time-traveling thriller Jumper, which hit the big screen in '08. In it, she acted alongside boyfriend Hayden Christensen.