Early Life and Education

Rachelle Lefevre was born on February 1, 1979, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She attended Centennial Academy, a private high school in Montreal. She later pursued creative arts at Dawson College before continuing her theater training during two summer sessions at the Walnut Hill School in Natick, Massachusetts. Lefevre eventually enrolled at McGill University to study education and literature but did not complete her degree, choosing instead to pursue a career in acting.

Breakthrough in Canadian Television

Lefevre's entry into the entertainment industry came through an unexpected twist of fate. While working as a waitress at a sushi bar in Montreal, she mentioned her acting aspirations to a regular customer who happened to be a Canadian television producer. This led to an audition for the sitcom Student Bodies. Although she did not get the part, it opened the door to future opportunities. In 1999, she landed her first significant role as Stacey Hanson in the Canadian television series Big Wolf on Campus. Her character, a popular teenage girl and love interest of the protagonist, appeared only in the show's first season.

Rise to Fame with Twilight

Lefevre gained international recognition for her portrayal of Victoria Sutherland in Twilight (2008), the cinematic adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling novel. She reportedly became obsessed with vampire lore after reading Bram Stoker's Dracula at age 14 and described her role in Twilight as embodying “pure evil, malice, and feline.” Her performance was widely praised, and she became an active figure in the film’s promotional campaigns, frequently meeting fans and signing autographs.