Rachel Zawadi Luttrell (born 19 January 1971) is a Tanzanian-born Canadian actress best known for her role as Teyla Emmagan in Stargate Atlantis (2004–2009).

[2] Her family has several musical roots; her father, a former member of the critically acclaimed Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, trained Luttrell's soprano voice.

She would go on to appear in many other stage productions, such as Once On This Island, Goblin Market, and the premier performance of Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Lynn Nottage's Las Meninas.

[1] Following a move to Los Angeles, Luttrell became frustrated with some of the minor roles she was offered to her at the time,[4] and considered giving up on her acting career to enroll at the UCLA to study architecture.

[1] In 2011 Luttrell ventured into jazz music, releasing her first album I Wish You Love, produced by Gerrit Kinkel and featuring artists like double bass player Jennifer Leitham, Graham Dechter, and Konrad Paszkudzki, and drummer Jeff Hamilton.