Rachel Miner

Rachel Miner Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: July 29, 1980

Age: 44 years old

Birth Place: New York, New York

Spouses: Macaulay Culkin

As a child performer, Rachel Miner amassed an impressive resume and worked with such distinguished directors as Woody Allen and Hal Hartley. In addition, soap aficionados knew her as Michelle Bauer, the troubled young heroine of CBS' long-running "Guiding Light." But, the general public, however, probably knew of the actress from her highly publicized 1998 marriage to -- and 2000 separation from -- fellow actor and kid star Macauley Culkin.

Few, however, were prepared for the actress' star-making turn (complete with full frontal nudity) in Larry Clark's dark and disturbing drama "Bully" (2001). In the film inspired by real events (although there was much debate over just how factual the motion picture was), Miner portrayed Lisa Connelly, a troubled Florida teen who goads her boyfriend (Brad Renfro) into murdering his abusive best friend (Nick Stahl).

Born and raised in NYC, Miner was the daughter of a TV director father (best known for his work on the ABC soap "One Life to Live") and a writer mother. By age nine, she had decided to pursue an acting career. While her parents did not discourage her, they warned her of the difficulties, but Miner appeared to lead a charmed life.

She nailed her first-ever audition and was cast as the young version of Mia Farrow's title character in "Alice" (1990). Before the film was released, Miner landed the role of Michelle on "Guiding Light" and began her five-year stint on the show in November 1990. Over the course of that time, the young actress more than held her own with veteran players and amassed viewer support and several accolades, including a Daytime Emmy nomination. She was essentially fired when the producers decided to "age" the character a bit.

Undaunted, Miner landed small roles in Hal Hartley's "Henry Fool" (1997) and Frank Whaley's directorial debut "Joe the King" (1999). She also appeared in the Broadway revival of "The Diary of Anne Frank," portraying the title character's older sister Margot. (During the show's Boston tryout, Miner was struck by a car and broke her ankle, causing her to miss the NYC opening night.)

But it was the March 1998 announcement of her engagement to Culkin (whom she met at the Professional Children's School) that catapulted her into the public eye. Both she and her intended were only 17, sparking many to predict that the union wouldn't last. Unfortunately, the naysayers were proven correct when Miner and Culkin announced their separation barely two years later in August 2000.

Credits

Onion Underwater

Actor
Show
2014

Frank the Bastard

Actor
Clair Defina
Movie
2013

In Their Skin

Actor
Jane
Movie
2012

Cross

Actor
Poison
Movie
2011

Life of Lemon

Actor
Esther
Movie
2011

No Ordinary FamilyStream

Guest Star
Rebecca Jessup
Series
2010
71%

The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations

Actor
Jenna Reide
Movie
2009

Sons of AnarchyStream

Guest Star
Series
2008
87%

Fear Itself

Actor
Chelsea
Show
2008

Hide

Actor
Betty
Movie
2008

CalifornicationStream

Guest Star
Dani
Series
2007
57%

Army WivesStream

Guest Star
Jasmine Wilkes
Series
2007

October RoadStream

Guest Star
Darcy
Series
2007
11%

October Road: The Journey So Far

Guest Star
Show
2007

Cult

Actor
Mindy
Movie
2007

The Memory Thief

Actor
Mira
Movie
2007

Tooth & Nail

Actor
Neon - Rover
Movie
2007

Fatwa

Actor
Cassie Davidson
Movie
2006

Penny Dreadful

Actor
Penny
Movie
2006

Thanks to Gravity

Actor
Sophia
Movie
2006

The Still Life

Actor
Robin
Movie
2006

Criminal MindsStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

SupernaturalStream

Actor
Meg Masters
Series
2005
93%

SupernaturalStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
93%

BonesStream

Guest Star
Mary Costello
Series
2005
90%

Circadian Rhythm

Actor
Movie
2005

Man of God

Actor
Karen Cohen
Movie
2005

Little Athens

Actor
Allison
Movie
2005

NY-Lon

Actor
Astrid
Show
2004

Cold CaseStream

Guest Star
Series
2003

Without a TraceStream

Guest Star
Series
2002

Bully

Actor
Lisa Connelly
Movie
2001

CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationStream

Guest Star
Series
2000

Sex and the CityStream

Guest Star
Laurel
Series
1998
70%

Guiding Light

Actor
Michelle Bauer
Soap
1952