She played fashionistas in the movie “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006) and in the short-lived FOX series “Justice” (2006), but Rebecca Mader’s recurring role on “Lost” (ABC, 2004- ) allowed the British actress to play up her adventurous tomboy side, something she had always wanted to do. Her character Charlotte was introduced on the mysterious island in the show’s fourth season opener hanging from a tree – upside down. Mission accomplished.Rebecca Mader was born in 1979 in Coldham’s Lane, Cambridge, England. She was married to Joseph Arongino, but the couple separated in 2007. Even though she was British- born, Mader quickly took on American roles ever since she started modeling in New York, where she appeared in advertisements for L’Oreal, Colgate, and Wella Hair. But that was before the acting bug bit, when she began landing one or two episode roles in daytime soaps like “The Guiding Light” (CBS, 1952- ), “One Life to Live” (ABC, 1968- ) and “All My Children” (ABC, 1970- ) – where she played Morgan Gordon. Mader turned down a contract role and accepted a 17-episode appearance on the show to expand her opportunities.
Primetime TV soon took notice of Mader’s talent and the opportunities the actress sought started flowing in her direction. She acted in a handful of series that only lasted for a season, from the thrilling “Fastlane” (FOX, 2002) to legal dramas like “Law and Order: Trial by Jury” (NBC, 2005) and “Justice” (FOX, 2005). The blue-eyed actress played no-nonsense attorney Alden Tuller in the latter show, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Supporting and blink-or-you’ll-miss-her roles in movies kept the actress busy. Aside from “The Devil Wears Prada,” Mader also acted in the 2005 Will Smith romantic comedy “Hitch” and in the indie flick “Great World of Sound” (2007).
There was a bit of media frenzy surrounding Mader’s next role. In the summer of 2008, it was announced she would join the cast of ABC’s primetime juggernaut “Lost” after Kristen Bell – best known for playing the title character in “Veronica Mars” (UPN/CW, 2004-06) – reportedly turned down the role of Charlotte. The British actress was surprised when she found out, saying it was odd that the two of them would go after the same role because they neither looked nor sounded nothing alike. Mader so impressed the producers of “Lost,” that after meeting her, they changed Charlotte from American to British on the show. “I went in speaking with my own accent [at the audition] and they were like, ‘We like it this way,’” Mader said.