Rachel Luttrell

{{Unreliable sources|date=April 2025}}{{Infobox person | birth_name = Rachel Zawadi Luttrell | name = Rachel Luttrell | image = Rsz rachel4.jpg | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1971|1|19}} | birth_place = Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1986–present | spouse = {{marriage|Loyd Bateman|2007|2021|end=divorced}} | children = 2 | relatives = Erica Luttrell (sister) | website = }}

'''Rachel Zawadi Luttrell''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ʌ|t|r|əl}} {{respell|LUTT-rel}}; born January 19, 1971) is a Canadian actress, best known for her role as Teyla Emmagan in ''Stargate Atlantis'' (2004–2009).

== Early life == Luttrell was born on January 19, 1971,<ref name="tomato"/> in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania,<ref name="tanz">{{cite web|url= https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/interview-rachel-luttrell-talks-stargate-atlantis/|title=Interview: Rachel Luttrell talks Stargate Atlantis|work=denofgeek.com|date=12 August 2009}}</ref> the daughter of Veronica Makihio Shenkunde Luttrell<ref name="veronica">{{cite web|url=https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-2461524/veronica-makihio-shenkunde-luttrell-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people|title=Veronica Makihio Shenkunde Luttrell – mother of actress Rachel Luttrell|work=myheritage.com|access-date=11 December 2022}}</ref> of the Washambala tribe of the Usambara Mountains, and William Leon Luttrell<ref name="veronica"/>, a white doctor from Bossier City, Louisiana. She is one of four daughters.<ref name="veronica"/> Her family emigrated to Canada when she was five years old,<ref name="tanz"/> and she was raised in Toronto.<ref name="tanz"/> Her family has several musical roots; her father, a former member of the critically acclaimed Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, trained Luttrell's soprano voice. She studied ballet at the Russian Academy of Classical Ballet School<ref name="hobo">{{cite web|url= http://www.hobotrashcan.com/interviews/rachelluttrell.php|title=One on One with Rachel Luttrell|work=hobotrashcan.com|access-date=30 April 2007}}</ref> and also studied piano at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.<ref name="tanz"/><ref name="hobo"/>

== Career == Luttrell made her professional debuts in Canada's premier production of ''Miss Saigon'' in Toronto, and as the Enchantress in the Canadian production of Disney's ''Beauty and the Beast''. She would go on to appear in many other stage productions, such as ''Once On This Island'', ''Goblin Market'', and the first production of Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Lynn Nottage's ''Las Meninas''.<ref name="tomato">{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/rachel_luttrell|title= Rachel Luttrell|work=rottentomatoes.com|access-date=11 December 2022}}</ref>

Following a move to Los Angeles, Luttrell became frustrated with some of the minor roles that were offered to her at the time,<ref name="hobo"/> and considered giving up on her acting career to enroll at UCLA to study architecture.<ref name="man"/> She ventured to the UK instead and studied at the British American Drama Association on a midsummer course at Balliol College, Oxford.<ref name="man"/>

In 2004, Luttrell was cast in a main role as Athosian warrior-leader Teyla Emmagan<ref name="tanz"/> on ''Stargate Atlantis''.<ref name="hobo"/> She remained in this role until the end of the series in 2009.<ref name="tanz"/><ref name="hobo"/> Her ''Atlantis'' co-star David Hewlett cast her in the Canadian movie ''A Dog's Breakfast'', which he directed.<ref name="tomato"/>

In 2011, Luttrell ventured into jazz music, releasing her first album ''I Wish You Love'', produced by Gerrit Kinkel and featuring double bass player Jennifer Leitham, Graham Dechter, Konrad Paszkudzki and drummer Jeff Hamilton.<ref name="man">{{cite web|url= https://issuu.com/thesiteweavers/docs/man_magazine_issue_12/61|title=Man magazine issue 12|publisher= Man Magazine|website=issuu.com|date=10 June 2013}}</ref>

== Personal life == Luttrell married Loyd Bateman, a former stunt performer, in 2007;<ref>{{cite web |title=Me and my baby celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. It isn't always easy. It's not meant to be. But man is it worth it!!! We err, but we love and we strive. Beautiful, amazing kids, and a life that is rich. I love this woman! Here's to 50 more!!! |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159313827400425&set=a.10151905186325425 |website=facebook.com}}</ref><ref name="tanz"/> they have two children together, a son, Caden, born in 2007,<ref name="man"/> and a daughter, Ridley, born in 2012.<ref name="man"/> They divorced in 2021. Luttrell has two younger sisters, Erica Luttrell,<ref name="veronica"/> who is also an actress, and Amanda Luttrell Garrigus,<ref name="veronica"/> who is an on-air personality in the fashion and entertainment worlds.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

==Filmography==

===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |1986 |''Courage'' |Bobby's Daughter |TV film |- |1992 |''Personal Effects'' | |Short film |- |1995 |''House'' | | |- |1996 |''Joe's So Mean to Josephine'' |Girl in Bar | |- |2001 |''Feast of All Saints'' |Lisette |TV film |- |2001 |''Impostor'' |Scan Room Nurse | |- |2003 |''Everyday Use'' |Dee | |- |2004 |''Stop Thief!'' |Nicky |Short film |- |2005 |''{{sortname|The|Aviary|The Aviary (2005 film)}}'' |Portia | |- |2007 |''{{sortname|A|Dog's Breakfast}}'' |Ratcha | |- |2009 |''Hardwired'' |Candace | |- |2019 |''Zombieland: Double Tap'' |Terrified Woman in Snow | |}

===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |1989–1993 |''Street Legal'' |Veronica Beck |20 episodes |- |1992 |''Forever Knight'' |Officer Norma Alves |"Hunters" |- |1993 |''Maniac Mansion'' |Lorrie |"Tina and the Teardrops" |- |1995 |''{{sortname|The|Great Defender|nolink=1}}'' |Reporter |"Naked Truth", "Camille" |- |1997 |''Dogs'' |Mimi |"1.1" |- |1997 |''In the House'' |Daphne |"The Cruise: Parts 1 & 2" |- |1998 |''Damon'' |Brenda |"Under Covers" |- |1998 |''Sleepwalkers'' | |"Cassandra" |- |2001 |''Charmed'' |Janna |"Exit Strategy" |- |2001 |''ER'' |Paramedic |"Rampage" |- |2002 |''Touched by an Angel'' |Marla |"The Sixteenth Minute" |- |2004–2009 |''Stargate Atlantis'' |Teyla Emmagan |91 episodes |- |2011 |''True Justice'' |Lt. Humphreys |"Urban Warfare: Part 1" |- |2011 |''NCIS'' |Navy Lt. Cmmdr. Stephanie Mosner |"Sins of the Father" |- |2013 |''NCIS: Los Angeles'' |CIA Agent Yvette Lowell |"Big Brother" |- |2015 |''No Sleep Till 18'' |Jill |"Everyone's Got an Opinion" |- |2016 |''Arrow'' |Rosie |"Code of Silence" |- |2018 |''Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce'' |Oona Falcone |2 episodes |- |2019 |data-sort-value="I-Land, The" | ''The I-Land'' |Brooke |"The Dark Backward" |}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == *{{IMDb name}} *{{Twitter}} *[http://www.hobotrashcan.com/interviews/rachelluttrell.php One on One with Rachel Luttrell] Interview with Luttrell about her career and season four of ''Stargate Atlantis''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Luttrell, Rachel}} Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century Canadian actresses Category:21st-century Canadian actresses Category:Actresses from Toronto Category:Black Canadian actresses Category:Canadian film actresses Category:Canadian people of American descent Category:Canadian people of English descent Category:Canadian people of Tanzanian descent Category:Canadian television actresses Category:People from Dar es Salaam Category:Tanzanian emigrants to Canada