Maitland Ward
Encyclopedia
Maitland Ward is most commonly known as Rachel McGuire from the hit prime time series, Boy Meets World
.
, where she appeared from 1994 to 1996. She landed that role, which was only her second major audition, when she was 17 and still a junior in high school. Although acting has always been her lifelong passion, Maitland did not actually pursue a professional career until that time.
After graduating from high school, Maitland attended Cal State University at Long Beach, where she was a member of Sigma Kappa
sorority, and continued to focus on her acting.
Maitland has had guest-starring roles on USA High
and ABC's Home Improvement; and co-starred with Jay Thomas
and Mario Lopez
in the dramatic movie, Killing Mr. Griffin
. She also appeared in the independent film, Dish Dogs
, a romantic comedy in which she co-stars with Brian Dennehy
, Matthew Lillard
and Sean Astin
.
Ward appeared in the 2004
comedy White Chicks
.
In an interview with Olivia Wilder in August 2010, Ward expressed a desire to revisit the character of Jessica if asked to return.
reported that she married real estate agent Terry Baxter on October 21, 2006.
Young Artist Award
Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World is an American comedy-drama series that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, a kid from suburban Philadelphia who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the...
.
Career
She starred as Jessica Forrester on The Bold and the BeautifulThe Bold and the Beautiful
The Bold and the Beautiful is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS Daytime. It premiered on March 23, 1987....
, where she appeared from 1994 to 1996. She landed that role, which was only her second major audition, when she was 17 and still a junior in high school. Although acting has always been her lifelong passion, Maitland did not actually pursue a professional career until that time.
After graduating from high school, Maitland attended Cal State University at Long Beach, where she was a member of Sigma Kappa
Sigma Kappa
Sigma Kappa is a sorority founded in 1874 at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Sigma Kappa was founded by five women: Mary Caffrey Low Carver, Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Mabel Fuller Pierce, Frances Elliott Mann Hall and Louise Helen Coburn...
sorority, and continued to focus on her acting.
Maitland has had guest-starring roles on USA High
USA High
USA High is an American teen sitcom which ran from August 1997 to June 1999, ended after 95 episodes, and reran until August 4, 2001 on USA Network.-Synopsis:...
and ABC's Home Improvement; and co-starred with Jay Thomas
Jay Thomas
Jay Thomas is an American actor, comedian and radio talk show host.-Personal life:Thomas was born in Kermit, Texas. He was raised in his Italian American mother's Roman Catholic faith, although his father was Protestant....
and Mario Lopez
Mario López
Mario Michael Lopez, Jr. is an American actor who has appeared on several television series, in films, and on Broadway. He is best known for his portrayal of the character A.C. Slater on Saved By The Bell, which he also portrayed as a regular on Saved by the Bell: The College Years...
in the dramatic movie, Killing Mr. Griffin
Killing Mr. Griffin
Killing Mr. Griffin is a novel for young adults by Lois Duncan.It is about a group of teenage students at Del Norte High School who plan to kidnap their strict English teacher, Mr. Griffin. The book was adapted to film in 1997, sharing the same title as the book, starring Jay Thomas, Mario Lopez,...
. She also appeared in the independent film, Dish Dogs
Dish Dogs
Dish Dogs is a direct-to-DVD romantic comedy film released in 2000. It stars Sean Astin and Matthew Lillard and was directed by Robert Kubilos. The film is about the relationship between two friends and when they find love they must both go their separate ways....
, a romantic comedy in which she co-stars with Brian Dennehy
Brian Dennehy
Brian Mannion Dennehy is an American actor of film, stage and screen.-Early years:Dennehy was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Hannah and Edward Dennehy, who was a wire service editor for the Associated Press; he has two brothers, Michael and Edward. Dennehy is of Irish ancestry and was...
, Matthew Lillard
Matthew Lillard
Matthew Lyn Lillard is an American actor and producer. He is best known for his roles as Stu Macher in Scream, Stevo in SLC Punk , and Shaggy Rogers in the Scooby-Doo film series and the Animated reboot series.-Early life:Lillard was born in Lansing, Michigan, and grew up in Tustin, California...
and Sean Astin
Sean Astin
Sean Astin is an American film actor, director, voice artist, and producer better known for his film roles as Mikey Walsh in The Goonies, the title character of Rudy, and Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In television, he appeared as Lynn McGill in the fifth season of 24...
.
Ward appeared in the 2004
2004 in film
The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
comedy White Chicks
White Chicks
White Chicks is a 2004 American film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and written and produced by Keenen Wayans, Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans. The film was produced by Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios...
.
In an interview with Olivia Wilder in August 2010, Ward expressed a desire to revisit the character of Jessica if asked to return.
Personal life
The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
reported that she married real estate agent Terry Baxter on October 21, 2006.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
| 1998 | A Bold Affair | Eleanor | |
| 2000 | Dish Dogs Dish Dogs Dish Dogs is a direct-to-DVD romantic comedy film released in 2000. It stars Sean Astin and Matthew Lillard and was directed by Robert Kubilos. The film is about the relationship between two friends and when they find love they must both go their separate ways.... |
Molly | Direct-to-Video Release |
| 2004 | White Chicks White Chicks White Chicks is a 2004 American film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and written and produced by Keenen Wayans, Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans. The film was produced by Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios... |
Brittany Wilson | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994–1996 | The Bold and the Beautiful The Bold and the Beautiful The Bold and the Beautiful is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS Daytime. It premiered on March 23, 1987.... |
Jessica Forrester | |
| 1997 | Killing Mr. Griffin | Candice Lee | TV-Movie |
| 1998 | USA High USA High USA High is an American teen sitcom which ran from August 1997 to June 1999, ended after 95 episodes, and reran until August 4, 2001 on USA Network.-Synopsis:... |
Tina | Episode: Buddies |
| Home Improvement | Christy | Episode: The Old College Try | |
| 1998–2000 | Boy Meets World Boy Meets World Boy Meets World is an American comedy-drama series that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, a kid from suburban Philadelphia who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the... |
Rachel Kimberly McGuire | 38 episodes |
| 2002 | Boston Public Boston Public Boston Public is an American drama television series created by David E. Kelley and broadcast on Fox. It centered on Winslow High School, a fictional public high school located in Boston, Massachusetts. The show was named for the real public school district in which it takes place... |
Rachel Newman | Episode: Chapter Forty-Three |
| 2005 | Out of Practice Out of Practice Out of Practice is an American situation comedy that was originally broadcast on CBS from September 19, 2005 to March 29, 2006. With producers Joe Keenan and Christopher Lloyd at the helm, the show was about a family of five doctors who had little in common and usually did not get along... |
Staci | Episode: Pilot |
| 2007 | Rules of Engagement Rules of Engagement (TV series) Rules of Engagement is a sitcom that debuted on CBS on February 5, 2007, as a midseason replacement, immediately following Two and a Half Men, in the time slot that was occupied by now-cancelled The New Adventures of Old Christine... |
Dani | Episode: Young and the Restless |
Awards and nominations
Soap Opera Digest AwardsSoap Opera Digest Awards
The Soap Opera Digest Awards were an awards show held by the daytime television magazine Soap Opera Digest. The awards were founded in 1984 to replace the less-lavish Soapy Award; those awards shows had run since 1977. The Soap Opera Digest Awards are meant to promote excellence in the soap opera...
- 1995: Nominated, "Outstanding Female Newcomer" - The Bold and the Beautiful
Young Artist Award
Young Artist Award
The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist...
- 1995: Won, "Best Performance by a Youth Actress in a Daytime Series" - The Bold and the Beautiful
- 1996: Nominated, "Best Performance by a Youth Actress in a Daytime Series" - The Bold and the Beautiful