Meaghan Rath
Discover the life and career of Canadian actress Meaghan Rath (born June 18, 1986). This comprehensive profile covers her early life, key roles, industry challenges, inspirations, notable quotes, and lessons from her journey.
Introduction
Meaghan Rath is a Canadian actress best known for her roles in television series such as Being Human and Hawaii Five-0. With a diverse heritage and a career spanning sci-fi, supernatural drama, and procedural shows, she has carved a distinctive path in the entertainment world. Her experiences speak to identity, persistence, and finding space in industries where representation is often limited.
Early Life and Family
Meaghan Rath was born on June 18, 1986, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Her family background is multicultural:
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Her mother is of Goan (Indian) heritage.
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Her father is of English and Austrian-Jewish descent.
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She has a younger brother, Jesse Rath, who is also an actor.
She studied Cinema and Communications at Dawson College in Montreal.
Her multicultural background and visible difference in appearance have been factors she has spoken about influencing her early career and how she sees casting dynamics.
Career and Achievements
Entry into Acting & Early Roles
Meaghan Rath’s acting career began early: her first credited film role was in Lost and Delirious (2001), where she appeared as “Allison’s Friend #3.”
On television, she gained more substantial roles in Canadian and teen drama series, such as 15/Love.
She also appeared in The Assistants and other projects leading up to more prominent roles.
Breakthrough: Being Human
One of her most recognized roles is Sally Malik in the supernatural drama Being Human, which aired from 2011 to 2014.
That role gave her a platform for complex emotional and supernatural storytelling, and allowed her to reach a broader international audience.
Later Television Work
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New Girl: Recurring appearances in the later seasons.
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Rogue: She played Clea Annou in Rogue.
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Hawaii Five-0: She joined the cast as Tani Rey (from season 8 onward) and held a main role in subsequent seasons.
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Children Ruin Everything: More recently, she stars as Astrid in this Canadian sitcom.
She also made guest appearances on Supergirl (as a variant of Brainiac-5) and reprised her Hawaii Five-0 role in Magnum P.I. crossovers.
Personal Life & Milestones
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On May 16, 2020, Meaghan Rath married actor Jack Cutmore-Scott.
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She has two children: her first son was born in late summer 2021, and her second child was born in 2023.
Themes, Challenges & Identity
Representation & Casting
Meaghan Rath has publicly discussed the scarcity of roles for actors who don’t fit a narrow “look.” She has said:
“There aren’t as many roles for people who look like me, and it was always complicated when it came to casting my parents. But now I couldn’t be more grateful that I have a different look.”
Her mixed heritage meant that she sometimes felt “different” early in her career; over time, she has reframed that difference as a strength.
Persistence & Craft
She has spoken about times when she felt discouraged in classes or in auditions, but pushed herself to return and persist:
“I remember so many times taking classes and feeling completely discouraged because I felt like I wasn’t getting it … I kept working at it … it really does pay off.”
She also emphasizes that television offers actors repeated chances to grow:
“I’ve done a couple of series before, and what I like about TV is, as an actor, you get that chance to practice all the time, and that’s really how you grow.”
Her preference for action, sci-fi, and supernatural elements also reveals her interest in genre roles:
“I love the action stuff. Honestly, I like sci-fi and everything supernatural.”
She also has a personal belief in the paranormal:
“I fully believe in ghosts. I have, my entire life. … The first house I ever lived in was haunted.”
Famous Quotes by Meaghan Rath
Here are a selection of quotes that reflect her perspective and journey:
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“I watched a lot of movies when I was younger and I remember, when I was seven years old, I asked my parents if I could have an agent for Christmas.”
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“There aren’t as many roles for people who look like me … But now I couldn’t be more grateful that I have a different look.”
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“I remember so many times taking classes and feeling completely discouraged … I kept working at it … it really does pay off.”
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“I’ve done a couple of series before … what I like about TV … that’s how you grow.”
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“I love the action stuff … I like sci-fi and everything supernatural.”
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“High school was hard for me. … I was self-conscious … I didn’t really know my place or where I fit in.”
Lessons from Meaghan Rath’s Journey
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Embrace your difference. What may feel like a barrier early on can become your unique asset in a competitive field.
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Persistence pays. Careers in acting rarely follow a straight line — resilience, consistent effort, and returning after setbacks matter.
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Practice through repetition. Especially in television, the ability to hone craft over episodes is valuable.
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Seek roles you’re drawn to. Rath’s affinity for supernatural and action genres shows aligning with your interests can guide your choices.
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Own your narrative. Speak openly about challenges (casting, identity) offers both catharsis and inspiration to others.
Conclusion
Meaghan Rath’s career illuminates the complexities of identity, opportunity, and perseverance in the entertainment industry. From her roots in Montreal with a multicultural heritage, to key roles in genre drama and procedural television, she has built a body of work marked by honesty, curiosity, and grit. Her quotes and reflections offer insight not only into her craft, but into how to navigate being “different” in spaces that often demand conformity.
If you’d like, I can prepare a recommended viewing list of her standout performances, or a deeper analysis of one of her roles (e.g. Sally Malik in Being Human). Would you like me to do that?