Rachel Melvin Bio - Rachel Melvin Biography

Rachel Melvin: Biography

Rachel Melvin graduated from Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, Arizona and immediately made the move to Los Angeles to pursue an career in acting . Since then, Rachel has appeared in commercials and as a guest star in many TV shows such as the WB's "Jack and Bobby" and "Summerland", ABC's "8 Simple Rules" and NBC's daytime drama "Days of our Lives." She can also be seen playing Meg, in an independent horror film entitled Boo! (2004), yet to be released. When not acting, Rachel enjoys dancing, singing, shopping, and painting.

Rachel: (asked how much she has in common with her "Days Of Our Lives" character, Chelsea) In the beginning, not much, but since I've been playing her, I've been maturing on my own. There are a lot of things I'm acquiring from her, like her independence and her rebellious thing. I got my ear cartridge pierced in Australia and I thought, "It totally works for Chelsea, Awesome!" Then I got my second holes done and put highlights in my hair. I can get funky and it works for her. I love my character.(edit)
Rachel: (on the response she gets when meeting fans of "Days Of Our Lives") When I started, everyone told me, "Don't take it personally. People are going to come up and hate you." I get it. Sometimes, there's a character I don't like in a movie and I see the actress in person, but don't immediately make the connection. I just get this feeling that I don't like her.(edit)
Rachel: (on visiting Australia) It's not that different from America. It's similar, but it's still different in culture ways that make you feel, "Oh, this is better than America!" Then you come back here and think, "Thank God I'm American," but you can't wait to go again. I might have to move there one day.(edit)
Rachel: (on visiting Australia) Oh man, I just went for my first time. I shouldn't have waited as long. It was great. I'm in love with Sydney. I went to visit a friend there, but I also did a day of PR, which was fun, too. I've got the travel bug now.(edit)
Rachel: (on her Christmas tradition) My tradition is to buy a sad one (tree) that will be killed. It has to fulfil its Christmas destiny! My family usually goes to the movies on Christmas night and always opens a gift from my aunt and uncle on Christmas Eve.(edit)
Rachel: (on playing the bad girl on DOOL) She�s [Chelsea] a great character because they give her every bad experience a teenager could go through. For me, it�s fun and challenging as I was very sheltered and never experienced anything like that. Even with guys - she kisses so many guys! I�ve kissed more guys as her than I have in real life. I live vicariously through my character!(edit)
Rachel: (her reaction to the Zach plot on DOOL, where she runs over him, killing him) As an actress, I was like, �Yes, more screen time!�, but it was actually very good for the whole show. In America, our ratings were low, and after that story, we were number one. It was a realistic storyline and it makes the audience think, �What would I do in that situation?�(edit)
Rachel: (on Chelsea�s bad deeds on DOOL) Nobody is going to start liking her for another five or six months - she doesn�t show redeeming qualities until that point. She�s not really a witch like people think� just very blunt and honest, and you�ll come to like that about her. Everything she does is to conceal her hurt. Everybody she�s ever loved leaves, and running over Zach tears her up inside because he was the one Brady she had a connection with; someone that accepted her no matter what.(edit)
Rachel: (on fans� reactions to her DOOL character, Chelsea) When I started, people warned me I was going to get mail saying, �Oh, we hate you�, but everybody I�ve met or that�s written in has been like, �Chelsea�s so bad - we hate her but we love her�, and �She�s so much like Sami�, which is cool because I used to watch and Sami was one of my favourites. I feel honoured they�re shaping me after her.(edit)
Rachel: It still hasn�t clicked that I�m on TV, and that some people admire me and some hate me. It is surreal, but it is really fun. I keep thinking, �I�m just me�nobody special.� But it is crazy and fun, and I think I�m one of the luckiest people in the world to be doing a job that I love. In fact, it doesn�t even feel like a job to me!(edit)
Rachel: I understand that all my experiences make me more mature and have made me the person I am today. I�m not at the party stage like Chelsea, but I do like to open myself up to certain things, and I�m enjoying those things as I grow up.(edit)
Rachel: The new writers are trying to make her redeemable - they�re maturing her. She is growing up and trying to be a better person.
It�s great for me. Now that I am 21 and Chelsea is also getting older, I can see her view on life. It will make my job a whole lot easier.(edit)
Rachel: I tape everything I do every day and then go and watch it in my dressing room, and I�m really proud of the scenes where Chelsea realises what she did.
The ones I�ve liked the best were when she pieces together that she was responsible for Zach�s death. She got paranoid and freaked out. There was an episode where she snapped at Max (Darin Brooks), then Bo came in and shook her. That was when I most felt I�d lived a scene. It was really special.(edit)
Rachel: Seven years is the longest I have ever known someone. I know the pain of leaving something or someone you loved behind, and that is how it is with Chelsea.
She has lost practically everyone she loves. Although she wants everyone to see her as independent and tough, she really is insecure and desperate to be loved.(edit)
Rachel: I have been able to use a lot of my childhood experiences to help me play Chelsea. I remember when I first went to high school I stayed in front start to finish - that people were a little afraid to befriend me because they knew how often I moved.(edit)
Rachel: My family has had its own hardships, and I see this opportunity on Days as a break for us all. I have very devoted parents, who helped my elder sister (Jessica) and I fulfil all our dreams. They stayed with me in California for two years, and have only moved back to Phoenix now that I�m properly settled into life in L.A.(edit)
Rachel: I haven�t been in too many relationships, which is a bit of the reverse of Chelsea! She�s one of a kind. I had one four-year relationship and one which lasted a year.
I was very much in love with that second one. It didn�t work out in my favour, but I�ve learned that every time I experience pain in my life, there is an upside to it. I can use that in my work.(edit)
Rachel: (her acting idols) Female-wise, Rachel McAdams and Sarah Jessica Parker. I love Sarah Jessica! Male-wise, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhall. I love James Franco too. He�s like my new James Dean.(edit)
Rachel: (on Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp) They never do the same thing; they take on new challenges with every role and really showcase their talent. I also love the period pieces.(edit)
Rachel: (what scenes she�s proud of) The ones I�ve liked best are the ones where Chelsea pieces together that she was responsible for Zack�s death. She was getting paranoid and freaked out. There was an episode where she snapped at Max, then Bo came in and shook her. That ws when I most felt I�d lived a scene. It was really special.(edit)
Rachel: (weird fan encounters) What story should I share? People would stare at me in high school and I�d think �Oh my God, I�m being trashed!� I have to remember that I�m on TV. It�s still awkward because I don�t really know how to handle it yet. I don�t think of myself as being a soap star.(edit)
Rachel: (on Julie Prinson who plays her mother, Billie, on DOOL) I love Julie - we have great chemistry. She teaches me a lot and I appreciate that.(edit)
Rachel: I love getting my scripts every day to see what�s going to happen next. It was almost as if I was a viewer. I really get into it!(edit)
Rachel: My biggest fear, when I started in this business was, would I ever be able to cry on cue? Actually now, scenes where I don�t have to cry are harder. Crying scenes are easy for me.(edit)

Rachel turned down a full scholarship to Arizona State University where she was considering studying design, to try her luck as an actress in LA!(edit)
Rachel has an older sister named Jessica.(edit)
Rachel was born in Illinois but raised in Phoenix, Arizona. Her parents sacrificed a lot to make sure she got all the opportunities needed to become an actress. They even moved with her to LA after she graduated from high school, to ensure she was safe in the big city.(edit)
Rachel contemplated going to school to become an interior designer.(edit)
Rachel plays the violin.(edit)
Rachel has two dogs, Riley (a yellow lab) and Cali (a golden retriever).(edit)
Rachel lists Julia Roberts, Brittany Murphy, and Rachel McAdams among her favorite actresses.(edit)
Rachel credits Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp as her idols.(edit)
Rachel moved to California after winning a $600 jackpot in a casino game of bingo; the last day she was able to gamble before Arizona State law changed the gambling age from 18 to 21.(edit)
Rachel graduated from Mountain Pointe High School in May of 2003.(edit)
Rachel studied at the Scott Sedita Studios in Hollywood.(edit)
Rachel passed up a full scholarship to Arizona State University to pursue her acting career in Los Angeles.(edit)
Rachel was born in Elmhurst, Illinois, but raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and has an older sister Jessica.(edit)