The bestSarah Raffertymovies and TV shows include several great appearances that fans of theSuitsstar are guaranteed to find delightful. Born in Connecticut in 1972, Sarah Rafferty’s career on screen began in the 1990s following her graduation from Massachusetts’ Phillips Academy in 1989. For many years she made dozens of single-episode appearances in a number of hit shows,includingLaw & Orderin 1999andWalker, Texas Rangerin 2001.
Sarah Rafferty also had a brief spell appearing on the big screen too, landing several small, but memorable roles in films like 2006’sThe Devil Wears Prada.However, it was the part of Donna inSuitsthat truly saw her career take off. In recent years, Rafferty has found herself landing more recurring and main cast roles, and the best movies and TV shows of her career suggest the coming years may be the most significant for her so far.
Falling for Grace
Cast
Falling for Grace follows Grace, a Chinese American woman aspiring to join New York’s high society. Mistaken for a Hong Kong heiress at a socialite event, she meets her Prince Charming, leading to a series of misunderstandings and dramatic turns in this contemporary Cinderella story.
The 2006 romantic comedyFalling for Grace,from director Fay Ann Lee, marks Sarah Rafferty’s first notable movie appearance (though her role, like many of those she’s taken on in feature films, was a minor one). The film focuses on Grace Tang (played by director Fay Ann Lee), an Asian-American Wall Street banker raised in New York’s Chinatown.
The movie follows Grace’s attempts to ingratiate herself with the Upper East Side high society, and the prejudice she faces along the way. Rafferty’s Sydney is one of the elites of the Upper East Side, appearing in a party scene where Grace is introduced to love interest Andrew Barrington Jr. (Gale Harold).It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance but still serves as an important milestone in Rafferty’s movie career.
9Tremors (2003)
Sarah Rafferty Played Dr. Casey Mathews
The 2003 Sci-Fi Channel seriesTremorswas a spinoff of the movie series of the same name, canonically taking place between 2001’sTremors 3: Back to Perfectionand 2004’sTremors 4: The Land Begins.While it was canceled after a single season, manyfans of theTremorsfranchiseenjoyed the attempt to bring the story of the monster comedy franchise to the small screen.
Sarah Rafferty had a small but memorable appearance in 3 episodes ofTremorsas Dr. Casey Mathews, an environmental scientist studying the effects of the compound Mixmaster, which blends the DNA of various animal species. It marks Rafferty’s only foray in the the science-fiction genre.Like many of her best TV roles, it wasn’t an incredibly prominent part, but Rafferty managed to make every minute of screen time count regardless.
What If God Were the Sun?
What If God Were the Sun? is a television film released in 2007, featuring a grieving nurse who finds solace in her new role helping a terminally ill woman with strong faith. The film explores themes of loss, comfort, and spiritual connection, underscoring the transformative power of human relationships.
The 2007 Lifetime movieWhat If God Were The Sunsees Sarah Rafferty as part of an ensemble cast that also includes Lacey Chabert ofAll My Childrenfame and Sam Trammell, known mostly for his role of Sam Merlotte inTrue Blood.Like the majority of Rafferty’s movie roles, her part of Rachel Eisenbloom inWhat If God Were The Sun?Isn’t the most central, but she still managed to make her scenes memorable.
The plot ofWhat If God Were The Sun?Focuses on Jamie (Chabert), an ER nurse due to be married who finds herself so overcome with grief after the death of her father that she questions everything from her career to her faith to her fiance. However, she finds solace while caring for Melissa (Gena Rowlands). Rafferty appears as Rachel, Melissa’s daughter. It’s a minor role, though Rafferty plays the part of a grieving adult dealing with the loss of a parent incredibly well.
The TV movieAll Things Valentineis a Hallmark original that bears all the tropes fans of the studio have come to expect from their romantic ventures. It also marks one of the best movies starring Sarah Rafferty, and one of her most prominent roles. InAll Things Valentine,Rafferty leads the cast as Avery, a relationship blogger who’s great at giving advice but terrible at securing a partner of her own.
As expected witha Hallmark love story, Avery meets a man she falls head-over-heels for instantly, Brendan (Samuel Page). However, Avery finds that winning him over won’t be easy, as the veterinarian blames her for his previous relationship falling apart.WhileAll Things Valentinedoesn’t do much to reinvent the romance movie wheel, Rafferty gives a solid performance in the by-the-numbers Hallmark film.
Small, Beautifully Moving Parts
Small, Beautifully Moving Parts explores the journey of Sarah Sparks, a tech enthusiast grappling with ambivalence about her pregnancy. As she navigates anxiety and seeks connection with her estranged mother, the film presents a comedic and poignant exploration of parenthood in the modern technological age.
2011’sSmall, Beautifully Moving Partsis an indie comedy-drama from writer-director duo Annie J. Howell and Lisa Robinson. The film focuses on freelance journalist Sarah Sparks (Anna Margaret Hollyman), a tech enthusiast who falls pregnant and finds her interest in ultrasound technology is a coping mechanism she’s using to prevent having to face her changing reality.
Sarah Rafferty co-stars inSmall, Beautifully Moving Partsas Emily, Sarah’s sister. Unlike Sarah, Emily is fully invested in motherhood, and what’s more, she’s convinced that Sarah should be too. She convinces Sarah to come to a baby shower in L.A., and while their reunion is initially tense, it ultimately sparks a journey for the pair to reconnect with their estranged mother, Marjorie.While the film received mixed reviews from critics, it remains perhaps Rafferty’s most plot-central movie role to date.
The Devil Wears Prada
Based on Lauren Weisberger’s novel, The Devil Wears Prada stars Anne Hathaway as Andrea Sachs, an aspiring journalist who, after landing a job with top New York fashion designer Miranda Priestly, gets drawn deeper and deeper into the cutthroat world of the fashion industry. Meryl Streep stars alongside Hathaway as Miranda Priestly, with a further cast that includes Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, and Simon Baker.
While her career on the small screen has seen her appear in many well-known TV shows alongsideSuits,Sarah Rafferty’s movie career hasn’t taken off quite as well. This is evidenced by the fact that her best movie appearance in 2006’sThe Devil Wears Pradawas in a deleted scene - though, for the fandom of the hit comedy-drama, it’s well known, as it’s a moment that displays theruthlessness of Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestlyincredibly well.
In the deleted scene, Rafferty’s Liz is assisting Andy (Anne Hathaway) pick out some clothing options for the models for a shoot. Andy is on the phone to Miranda Priestly, who asks Andy who she is speaking to. When Miranda finds out it’s Liz, she utterly destroys Rafferty’s character with some of the most scathing words in the entire movie, leaving Liz utterly distraught. It’s a small but memorable appearance, and one that manyThe Devil Wears Pradafans feel should have made it into the final cut.
Few medical dramas can boast the success ofGrey’s Anatomy,the long-running ABC series that can boast an astounding 21 seasons and over two decades on the air. Among the many cast members that have come and goneacross the duration ofGrey’s Anatomyis Sarah Rafferty, who appeared in 3 episodes of season 16 as Suzanne Britland. Debuting in episode 11 of season 16, “A Hard Pill To Swallow”, and leaving in episode 14, “A Diagnosis”, Sarah Rafferty’s Suzanne was one of the most memorable multi-episode patients ofGrey’s Anatomyin 2020.
Sarah Rafferty’sGrey’s Anatomycharacter Suzanne presented with some incredibly mysterious symptoms following what should have been a routine appendectomy. The storyline was incredibly tense, especially due to Suzanne’s daughters refusing to leave her bedside since their father died the previous year following a medical misdiagnosis.While not the most significant role of Sarah Rafferty’s career, it allowed her to display her abilities for dramatic, emotive scenes more than many others.
Chicago Med
Chicago Med is a medical drama series that explores the high-stakes environment of a bustling Chicago hospital. Set against the backdrop of chaotic emergency room scenarios, the series follows a team of dedicated doctors and nurses as they confront challenging cases inspired by real-world issues, while navigating complex relationships.
Chicago Medis the hit medical procedural fromLaw & Ordercreator Dick Wolf, and is part ofNBC’sOne Chicagofranchise(alongsideChicago Fire, Chicago Justice,andChicago P.D.). The series has run for 10 seasons so far, first debuting in 2015. Rafferty joined the cast in 2021, making her first appearance in the season 7 episode “Change Is A Tough Pill To Swallow” and leaving in the season 8 premiere, “How Do You Begin To Count The Losses”.
While not a central a role as that of Donna inSuitsor Katherine inMy Life with the Walter Boys,Sarah Rafferty still managed to make herChicago Medcharacter, Dr. Pamela Blake, a memorable one. Blake was the Division Chief of Transplantation Surgery, and the former girlfriend of Dominic Rains’ Dr. Cocket Marcel (and was also responsible for training him as a transplant surgeon).It was a nuanced role for Rafferty, and included some incredibly emotive moments as Blake began to lose the ability to perform surgeries due to developing a tremor in her hands.
My Life with the Walter Boys
My Life with the Walter Boys is a 2023 series about a teenage girl who moves in with her guardian’s large family following a personal tragedy. Set in a small town, the story explores themes of love, hope, and friendship as she navigates her new life.
2023’sMy Life with the Walter Boysarrived on Netflix in 2023, and marks Sarah Rafferty’s most significant role since playing Donna Paulsen inSuits.It’s also a role that showcases the wide range of Rafferty’s acting abilities, as her character, Katherine Walker, couldn’t be more different from that of Donna. The story ofMy Life with the Walter Boys(which is adapted fromthe Ali Novak novelof the same name) focuses on Jackie, a 15-year-old who moves to rural Colorado from New York following a deep personal tragedy.
Sharing plenty of screentime with star Nikki Rodriguez (who plays Jackie), Sarah Rafferty plays Jackie’s new legal guardian in Colorado, the veterinarian Katherine Walter. Rafferty does a superb job playing the matriarchal and motherly figure,providing an important emotional anchor not only for Jackie, but for the narrative ofMy Life with the Walter Boysas a whole.
1Suits (2011-2019)
Sarah Rafferty Played Donna Paulsen
Of all the roles in Sarah Rafferty’s career, it’s her time as Donna Paulsen inSuitsthat still stands as her best TV show or movie - and none of her other appearances come close to matching its cultural impact. Throughout all 9 seasons ofSuitsSarah Rafferty plays Donna, the secretary and eventual love interest of Gabriel Macht’s high-flying lawyer Harvey Specter.
As Donna, Sarah Rafferty was an essential ingredient in the formula that made suits so successful, especially when it came to storylines featuring Harvey Specter. Everything fromDonna and Harvey’s can opener ritualto their will-they-won’t-they romance was beloved by fans, and no role Rafferty has taken on before or since has been as significant for her career.To this day, Sarah Rafferty continues to be highly engaged with theSuitsfandom, even co-hosting a watch-through podcast, “Sidebar”, with co-star Patrick J. Adams.
