Rachel Leah Bloom is an American actress, comedian and writer, best known for creating, writing and playing the lead role of Rebecca Bunch in The CW comedy-drama series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (2016). She was born on April 3, 1987 in Los Angeles, California, United States. Rachel attended NYU, Tisch School of the Arts in New York City for theater. While at NYU, Bloom was the head writer and director of the school's premier sketch comedy group, Hammerkatz. After graduating from NYU in 2009 with a B.F.A. in drama, Rachel continued to study improve and sketch at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in NY. In 2010, Rachel released her first Internet music video, "F*ck Me, Ray Bradbury", which went viral and was nominated for a Hugo Award for "Best Dramatic Presentation: Short Form". In 2012, Rachel performed in the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal in the "New Faces: Characters" Showcase. She also continues to release comedy music videos on YouTube, under the name "Racheldoesstuff". Her writing credits include Adult Swim's Robot Chicken (2005), Fox's Allen Gregory (2011) and Lucasfilm's upcoming "Star Wars Detours".