Image via Complex Original
In Conan the Barbarian, model-turned-actress Rachel Nichols stars opposite Jason Momoa's Conan as the graceful and intelligent Tamara. Her character is a student in monastery training to become the Queen's servant, but, the humble heroine becomes a full-blown sex symbol by the end of the film.
Once Rachel blows up, you'll want to know every detail about the girl we had previously only seen in supporting roles in GI Joe and Alias. Take what you already know about the beautiful (natural) blond and add these five supplemental facts. Get to know Rachel Nichols.
5. She appeared in Maxim's "Swimsuit Issue" in 2001 before landing her first notable role.
Before landing her first major film role as Jessica, the hot brainy chick who kissed Mimi Rogers, in Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, Nichols graced the pages of one of Maxim's steamiest issues. At her Caribbean photoshoot, Nichols wore a skimpy camo bikini, but she definitely did not blend into the scenery.
4. She has her doctor to thank for her modeling career.
When Nichols was a young awkward teen in Maine, she had a bicycle accident. She crashed into a ditch and despite wearing a helmet, she got a huge cut between her eyebrows. The doctor told her and her father that he could sew her up in five stitches, but he was going to do it in ten "in case she wanted to become a model." Years later, she sent her doctor a modeling photo and a note that said, "Hi. You were right."
3. She played the third wheel for a threesome on "Sex and the City" in 2002.
Sex and the City started it all for Nichols. Before this role, she was content with being a supermodel, but her agency called her up about a hot waitress character. She admitted that she had never been to a real audition before and that the fun she had on the Sex and the City set made her want to pursue acting. Who wouldn't have fun rolling around in bed with Kim Cattrall?
2. She was supposed to replace Jennifer Garner on "Alias."
Nichols was being groomed on and off camera to be Garner's replacement on the female-driven action series. On the show, Nichols played Rachel Gibson, the protege of Garner's character. After Garner's pregnancy, which was written into the show, Nichols' character was going to take over the leading spot. However, the show was canceled before Nichols could bloom into the ass-kicking CIA agent she was meant to play.
1. She was the green girl in "Star Trek."
Rachel's role was kept a secret, even to her, for a whole month after she was cast in 2009's Star Trek. At first, she was speculated to play Captain Kirk's love interest, Janice Rand. Then it was revealed that she would be Gaila, an Orion woman. In Star Trek history, Orions are green-skinned and known for their sexual prowess.
While getting her skin airbrushed green on set, Nichols would spectualte who could be her next boyfriend: The Hulk, Kermit, the Green Goblin. We're humans and all, but no guy in his right mind would scoff at the chance to date an alien chick as hot as Rachel Nichols.