Rachael Leigh Cook's 5 Biggest Comebacks: New Romances, 90s Reunions, And 2025 Movie Schedule

Rachael Leigh Cook, the quintessential '90s romantic comedy icon, is experiencing an undeniable career and personal resurgence that has fans buzzing in late 2024 and early 2025. Her journey from the beloved makeover star of She's All That to a prolific Hallmark Channel fixture and now a leading lady in a real-life rom-com with a fellow celebrity has solidified her status as a Hollywood perennial. This article breaks down the most current and exciting updates on her life, including a major on-screen reunion and a confirmed new relationship.

As of December 2025, Rachael Leigh Cook’s professional calendar is packed, featuring highly anticipated new movies and a nostalgic return to her roots, all while navigating the complexities of co-parenting and a blossoming new romance. The actress, who has successfully transitioned from teen idol to a respected producer and star, proves that the best chapters are often yet to be written.

Rachael Leigh Cook: Complete Biography and Career Profile

Rachael Leigh Cook has maintained a steady and versatile career in Hollywood for over three decades, balancing roles in major studio films, independent projects, and television. Her early work defined a generation of teen cinema, while her recent projects showcase her evolution as an actress and producer.

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• Full Name: Rachael Leigh Cook
• Date of Birth: October 4, 1979
• Place of Birth: Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
• Height: 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
• Children: Charlotte Easton Gillies (b. 2013) and Theodore Vigo Sullivan Gillies (b. 2015)
• Ex-Spouse: Daniel Gillies (m. 2004; div. 2021)
• Current Partner (Reported): Brandon Routh (as of 2024/2025)
• Career Start: Began modeling at age 10, appearing in national advertisements for products like Milk-Bone dog biscuits and Target.
• Breakthrough Role: Mary Anne Spier in The Baby-Sitters Club (1995) and Laney Boggs in She's All That (1999).
• Notable TV Roles: Kate Moretti in the TNT crime drama Perception (2012–2015).
• Recent Filmography Highlights: Love, Guaranteed (2020), He's All That (2021), and A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023).

The 2025 Movie Slate: Hallmark, Fox, and a '90s Reunion

Rachael Leigh Cook has strategically built a successful partnership with the Hallmark Channel and Netflix, cementing her status as a modern-day romantic comedy queen. However, her upcoming 2025 slate is particularly exciting, featuring a mix of new originals and a highly anticipated reunion with a former co-star.

1. The Hallmark Premiere: Sisterhood Inc. (February 2025)

Kicking off her 2025 schedule is the Hallmark Channel original movie, Sisterhood Inc., which is set to premiere on February 8, 2025. The project is particularly fresh as Cook has mentioned that the movie's title was inspired by an old friend, suggesting a deeply personal connection to the story. Her continued work with Hallmark, following hits like Summer Love and Tis the Season to be Merry, reinforces her appeal in the feel-good holiday and romance genre.

2. The Iconic Reunion: A Christmas Affair with Freddie Prinze Jr.

Easily the most talked-about news is the reunion of the She's All That power couple: Rachael Leigh Cook and Freddie Prinze Jr. The two are set to co-star in an upcoming Fox holiday film titled A Christmas Affair. The movie will see them play superstar sportscasters, Natalie (Cook) and Gabe (Prinze Jr.), bringing their beloved on-screen chemistry back to the holiday movie format. This project is a huge win for fans of '90s romantic comedies and demonstrates Cook’s ability to generate significant buzz with nostalgic projects.

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The reunion extends beyond the screen. In November 2025, Cook and Prinze Jr. are scheduled to appear together at 90s Con, providing fans with a unique opportunity to celebrate their iconic roles and their new collaboration.

A Real-Life Rom-Com: The Brandon Routh Romance

While her professional life is flourishing, Rachael Leigh Cook’s personal life has also taken a heartwarming turn, solidifying her own real-life romantic comedy plot. Following her 2021 divorce from actor Daniel Gillies after 17 years of marriage, Cook has been openly navigating a new chapter of dating and co-parenting.

3. Finding Love with Former Superman Brandon Routh

In a development that has delighted fans, Rachael Leigh Cook and actor Brandon Routh (known for his roles as Superman in Superman Returns and Ray Palmer/The Atom in the Arrowverse) appear to have confirmed a relationship. The couple was spotted holding hands and smiling together in Los Angeles in July 2024, and reports in May 2025 suggest they are "happy to have found each other" and have been an item for a few months. The pairing of the '90s rom-com star and the former superhero has been described as a new celebrity couple quietly making waves.

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4. The Co-Parenting Dynamic with Daniel Gillies

Cook and her ex-husband, Daniel Gillies (known for The Vampire Diaries), share two children: daughter Charlotte Easton and son Theodore Vigo Sullivan. Their divorce was finalized in 2021, and they have maintained an amicable co-parenting relationship, emphasizing friendship and mutual respect as they raise their children. Cook has been vocal about the challenges and rewards of being a working mother and co-parent, often prioritizing their well-being while managing her demanding film schedule, which includes shooting for both Netflix (like A Tourist's Guide to Love) and Hallmark.

5. The Producer Role: Taking Creative Control

Beyond acting, Cook has increasingly stepped into a producer role, a move that gives her greater creative control over the projects she stars in. This strategic shift is evident in her recent work with Netflix and Hallmark, where she has been an executive producer on several of her films, including Love, Guaranteed. This role allows her to select projects that align with her vision and ensure the stories she tells are genuinely engaging and positive, a significant evolution from her early career as a hired actress. Her transition into production is a testament to her longevity and business acumen in the entertainment industry.

Rachael Leigh Cook's current trajectory is a masterclass in career reinvention and personal happiness. With multiple high-profile projects set for 2025, including the nostalgia-fueled A Christmas Affair and her new relationship with Brandon Routh, she is not just an icon of the past but a vibrant, relevant force in the present day. Her ability to pivot between genres and roles, from dramatic television to romantic comedies and executive production, ensures that her story is far from over.