Rachel Elizabeth Brosnahan (born July 12, 1990) is an American actress known primarily for her lead role as Miriam “Midge” Maisel in the Amazon Prime Video series *The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel* (2017–2023). This role earned her critical acclaim, including a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (2018) and two consecutive Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy (2018 and 2019)[1][3][5].
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and raised in Highland Park, Illinois, Brosnahan is the daughter of Carol and Earl Brosnahan and the niece of late designer Kate Spade[3][4]. She developed an interest in acting during her school years and graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2012[4][6].
Brosnahan began her screen career with a film debut in the horror movie *The Unborn* (2009). She gained early recognition for her role as Rachel Posner in the political thriller series *House of Cards* (2013–2015), for which she received an Emmy nomination[1][4][5]. Her other notable film credits include *Beautiful Creatures* (2013), *The Courier* (2020), and *I’m Your Woman* (2020)[1][2][5].
On stage, she made her Broadway debut in the 2013 revival of *The Big Knife* and appeared as Desdemona in the 2016 off-Broadway production of *Othello*. In 2023, she returned to Broadway in the revival of *The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window*, earning a Drama League Distinguished Performance Award nomination[1].
In recent years, Brosnahan expanded her profile by portraying Lois Lane in the DC Universe film *Superman* (2025)[1]. Her career continues to balance acclaimed television, film, and theater work, maintaining her relevance as a versatile and celebrated actress.