Rachel Emily Nichols (born January 8, 1980) is an American actress, currently known for her portrayal of CIA agent Rachel Gibson on ABC's television series, Alias.

Nichols was born and raised in Augusta, Maine, where she attended Cony High School. As a sophomore at Cony, she studied abroad in France, an experience that would, in hindsight, prepare her well for her future career. Surprisingly, given her current status as a top model and actress, Nichols admitted to Latino Review that she "wasn't the hot chick" in high school, referring to herself as a "late bloomer." Upon graduation, she headed to Columbia University in New York, intent on studying psychology.