<Tr> <Th> Height </Th> <Td> 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Children </Th> <Td> 1 daughter </Td> </Tr> <P> Rachel Shelley (born 25 August 1969) is an English actress and model . She is best known for playing Helena Peabody in the Showtime series The L Word and Elizabeth Russell in the Oscar - nominated Bollywood epic Lagaan . </P> <P> Rachel Shelley was born on 25 August 1969 in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, and was brought up primarily in London . After graduating from the University of Sheffield with a B.A. Hons in English and Drama, she joined a local theatre company in Edinburgh and set up a community theatre company in Sheffield before moving to London to further her acting career . </P>

Who plays helena peabody on the l word