Rachel Resheff is a prolific and multi-faceted 16-year-old actress, singer, dancer and writer. She is currently playing a recurring role in Netflix’s new dramatic series SEVEN SECONDS, and just filmed a guest star in Netflix’s FRIENDS FROM COLLEGE. She also had an incredible appearance on critically acclaimed television show ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, in which she played the younger version of Laura Prepon’s character, Alex Vause. As a versatile actress who can effortlessly shift from stage to film to TV, Rachel has been in independent and large budget films, including the upcoming ANNABELLE HOOPER AND THE GHOSTS OF NANTUCKETT, THE BOAT BUILDER with Christopher Lloyd, THE ESCORT with Lindsay Fonseca, and THE NEW WEAPON. On stage, Rachel recently performed a full production run as Jessica Drexel in Larry David’s new Broadway play FISH IN THE DARK, her fifth Broadway show. Rachel debuted on Broadway at age 8 originating the role of Young Fiona (to Sutton Foster’s Fiona) in SHREK: THE MUSICAL. She went on to play ballet girl Julie Hope in BILLY ELLIOT, Jane Banks in MARY POPPINS (the youngest to have played the role on Broadway at that time), and Jenny in THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE, for which she both originated the lead and was hailed by the Associated Press as “formidably talented”.
She attends the prestigious Fiorello LaGuardia High School for Music, Art, and the Performing Arts.
Rachel was discovered by a talent manager in a Community Theater production at age 7, and within months of signing, booked the lead role of Christina in Eric Mendelsohn’s 3 BACKYARDS, opposite Edie Falco. The film won Best Direction at Sundance in 2010 and was theatrically released in 2011.
Rachel has also originated roles in numerous Off Broadway plays and has work shopped several new Broadway bound productions at Playwrights Horizons, The Signature Theater, Roundabout Theatre Company, Soho Rep, MTC, NY Stage and Film at Vassar, The Eugene O’Neill Center, MTC, New Dramatists and Coult Couer. Productions include: Girl in THE BIG MEAL, Shirley in FIFTH OF JULY, Elsie in EVERYTHING IS OURS, and Alison McNally in THE KID WHO WOULD BE POPE, in which the NY Post lauded, “Rachel Resheff…at age 11 has the comic timing of a pro.”
On June 3, 2017, following two previous sold out solo shows, Rachel will make her third appearance at Manhattan’s premiere cabaret venue, 54 Below in a solo show entitled “The Edge of Seventeen”.
Rachel sings all genres of music, and plays guitar and piano. The same versatility she displays in her acting is present in her music. She has a voice that spans from alto to high soprano, and she belts out theater and pop songs with the same ease that she sings traditional musical theater and folk ballads. As a dancer, Rachel is a classical ballet dancer and serious tapper and also excels at jazz and hip hop.
Rachel’s spare time is spent enjoying time with her family which includes 2 older siblings, reading voraciously, hanging out with friends, and when time allows playing basketball and developing a band with some classmates.
