Rachael Leigh Cook’s role as outcast Laney Boggs in the iconic 1999 teen rom-com “She’s All That” is the reason so many rom-coms (and parodies of them) have adopted the classic trope of achieving an instant makeover simply by removing one’s glasses. While 1999’s “She’s All That” may have been Cook’s breakout role, she actually got her start as Mary Anne Spier in the 1995 adaptation of “The Baby-Sitters Club.” From cult classics like “Josie and the Pussycats” to recurring roles on TV shows like “Psych” and “Robot Chicken,” Cook’s proved her comedy prowess. It’s easy to hate on “Josie and the Pussycats,” but it’s also one of those films you can rewatch and find something new to love each and every time — with Cook’s Josie McCoy being one of the highlights. Although she’s mostly known for her lighthearted roles, Cook has dabbled in the world of drama with 2007’s “The Final Season” and the crime series “Perception” alongside Eric McCormack. In October 2022, she starred in “Spirit Halloween: The Movie,” and more recently, she revisited the rom-com genre alongside Scott Ly in “A Tourist’s Guide to Love,” which hit Netflix on April 21. If you’re looking for a dose of Rachael Leigh Cook nostalgia, go ahead and check out some of her best roles ahead.
Rachael Leigh Cook as Mary Anne Spier in “The Baby-Sitters Club” (1995)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Becky Thatcher in “Tom and Huck” (1995)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Kayla in “Carpool” (1996)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Emma Baker in “Country Justice” (1996)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Lucy Stanton in “The Eighteenth Angel” (1997)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Abigail “Abby” Sawyer in “Strike!” (1998)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Dolores in “The Naked Man” (1999)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Laney Boggs in “She’s All That” (1999)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Doreen Carter in “Get Carter” (2000)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Caroline Dukes in “Texas Rangers” (2001)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Christina Robertson in “Blow Dry” (2001)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Josie McCoy in “Josie and the Pussycats” (2001)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Jenny Travile in “Tempo” (2003)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Cheri in “11:14” (2003)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Ruthie in “The Big Empty” (2003)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Hunter in “Bookies” (2003)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Dori Lawrence in “Stateside” (2004)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Clara Wheeler on “Into the West” (2005)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Vanessa in “My First Wedding” (2006)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Jane Brighton in “Nancy Drew” (2007)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Haley in “Blonde Ambition” (2007)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Chrissie Nugent in “All Hat” (2007)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Polly Hudson in “The Final Season” (2007)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Abigail Lytar on “Psych” (2008-2010)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Kate Moretti on “Perception” (2012–2015)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Frankie Baldwin in “Summer in the Vineyard” (2017)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Mary Campbell in “Frozen in Love” (2018)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Willow Petersen in “A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas” (2019)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Susan Whitaker in “Love, Guaranteed” (2020)
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Sue in “Spirit Halloween: The Movie” (2022)
Image Source: Strike Back Studios
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Rachael Leigh Cook as Amanda Riley in “A Tourist’s Guide to Love”
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