[1] After a lead role in Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995), Rowan starred as Mattie Shaw on the series Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years (1995–1996).

Rowan went on to garner international fame for her portrayal of California real estate developer Kirsten Cohen on the American television series The O.C., which ran from 2003 to 2007.

She left the University of Western Ontario to pursue acting, and studied at the British American Drama Academy in the United Kingdom and at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City.

[4] Rowan guest-starred in television series such as The Outer Limits, Growing Pains, Da Vinci's Inquest, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Dallas.

In 2003, she was cast as Kirsten Cohen, a loving mother and businesswoman on Fox's teen drama series The O.C..[5] In 2006, she won a Prism Award for this role.