Rachel Blanchard is a Canadian actress. She was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and graduated from Havergal College in Toronto, Ontario, going on to Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. She later dropped out, however, when she got offered the role of Cher in the "Clueless" (1996) TV series.

Her career was launched with a part in a McDonald's commercial and as an eight-year-old on the Canadian children's show The Kids of Degrassi Street, where she played Melanie Schlegel. She also starred in War of the Worlds as Suzanne McCullough's daughter Debi and in Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark? as Kristen. Blanchard is probably best known for playing the part of Cher Horowitz (originally portrayed by Alicia Silverstone on the television series Clueless based on the 1995 movie of the same name.

Her other television credits include "Alex: The Life of a Child," and such Canadian productions as "The Campbells," "Katts and Dog," "Glory Enough For All," "Two For Joy" and "On My Own." Blanchard also starred in The Rage: Carrie II, the sequel to the cult classic Carrie. She appeared in the feature films “Road Trip”, opposite Brekin Meyer, Sean William Scott and Tom Green, “Sugar & Spice” with Mena Suvariand Marley Shelton, “Iron Eagle IV” with Louis Gossett, Jr. and the Canadian film “Young Ivanhoe”. Blanchard wrapped two independent films, Joel Silverman's “Nailed”, opposite Harvey Keitel and Brad Rowe, and “Wild Dogs”, which premiered at the 2002 Toronto Film Festival.

She received critical acclaim for her performance in the award-winning second series of British sitcom Peep Show. She reprised this role in the fourth series (2007).

Blanchard has been featured as one of FHM 's "100 Sexiest Women of the Year" on multiple occasions. Her rankings include: 73rd place (2001) and 37th place (2002).