Wikipedia

Nathalie Emmanuel

Nathalie Joanne Emmanuel (born 2 March 1989) is a British actress. Emmanuel began her acting career appearing in theatre in the late 1990s, acquiring roles in various West End productions such as the musical The Lion King.[1] In 2006, she began her on-screen career by starring as Sasha Valentine in soap opera Hollyoaks, after which she appeared in various British television series until her debut film appearance in Twenty8k (2012).

Nathalie Emmanuel
Emmanuel at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Nathalie Joanne Emmanuel

(1989-03-02) 2 March 1989 (age 35)
Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England
OccupationActress
Years active2006–present

Emmanuel gained wider recognition for her role as Missandei in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones (2013–2019), and continued her career with supporting roles in Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) and its sequel Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018), the Fast & Furious films Furious 7 (2015), The Fate of the Furious (2017), F9 (2021), and Fast X (2023). She has since taken on lead roles in Army of Thieves (2021) and Megalopolis (2024).

Early life

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Emmanuel was born on 2 March 1989 in Southend-on-Sea, a city in Essex, England.[1][2] Her mother is Dominican, and her father is of half-Saint Lucian and half English descent. She has an older sister.[3][4] Emmanuel recalled that her mother first took notice of her passion and desire to become an actress during Emmanuel's attendance at the private St Hilda's School, which closed in 2014, and later the Westcliff High School for Girls grammar school.[5][6] In an interview with the New York Daily News, she commented, "When I was 3, [I'd] always cause drama that my mum decided maybe I should channel it properly—so she started me on acting, singing and dancing classes".[7] At the age of 10, she played Young Nala in the West End production of the musical The Lion King.[7]

Career

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Emmanuel speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con

In 2006, she made her television debut, starring as Sasha Valentine in the soap opera Hollyoaks. Emmanuel appeared on the show until 2010, her character's storylines included prostitution, and heroin addiction.[8][9][10]

In January 2012, Emmanuel presented BBC Three's Websex: What's the Harm?, investigating the online sexual habits of 16–24 year olds in the UK.[11] Later in the same year she made her film debut in the thriller Twenty8k.[12][13]

The following year, she was cast as Missandei, Daenerys Targaryen's interpreter, in HBO's fantasy drama series Game of Thrones.[10] In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, she confirmed that she received the news about winning the role when she was working in a clothes store as a shop assistant.[14] In 2015, Emmanuel was promoted to a regular cast member on the show.[15] Missandei was the only prominent character that was a woman of colour in the show, and her death scene, which took place whilst she was in chains, was unpopular among fans, being called an example of fridging and evoking an image of slavery.[16][17] Emmanuel later told The Guardian:[18]

The reaction to Missandei's death was so big because she was the only one. I think a lot of the people who felt othered or disenfranchised had connected with her, or felt represented by her, especially women of colour. When she died – and in the way that she did – it was so painful for people because they were like, ‘Wait, no! That's how they’re going to do the only woman of colour?’

Also in 2015, she played computer hacker Ramsey in the action film Furious 7,[19] and Harriet in the science fiction adventure Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials.[20][21] For the former Emmanuel won the Screen Nation award for Best Female Performance in Film.[22] She played Harriet once again in the movie Maze Runner: The Death Cure in 2018.

In 2017, Emmanuel said that she learnt "the art of subtlety" playing Missandei, and that as she was working on soundstages and with greenscreens when playing Ramsey, that role developed the use of her imagination when acting.[23] She reprised her role of Ramsey in The Fate of the Furious in 2017;[24] she played Ramsey again in F9, which was due to be released in May 2020, but was postponed until June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[25][26]

 
Emmanuel at the 2019 German Comic Con in Dortmund

Emmanuel played Maya, a political speechwriter, in the romantic comedy television series Four Weddings and a Funeral for Hulu,[27][18] and was the voice of Deet in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Netflix series, both released in 2019.[28]

In July 2020, Emmanuel costarred opposite Kevin Hart and John Travolta in the Quibi original action-comedy series Die Hart.[29]

In May 2022, Emmanuel joined the cast of Francis Ford Coppola's film, Megalopolis.[30]

In 2022, she starred alongside Thomas Doherty in the supernatural horror film The Invitation.[31]

In the media

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FHM magazine ranked Emmanuel as 99th in their 100 Sexiest Women of 2013, and 75th in their Sexiest Women of 2015.[32][33] In 2015, she also appeared in the April issue of InStyle and GQ magazines.[34][35]

Personal life

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Emmanuel follows a plant-based diet for health reasons, and told Glamour magazine in 2017 that "I don't trust the food industry, I don't trust what they put in our belly – it makes me feel sick actually."[36]

Filmography

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Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2012 Twenty8k Carla [12]
2015 Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials Harriet [37]
Furious 7 Ramsey [19][24]
2017 The Fate of the Furious [24]
2018 Maze Runner: The Death Cure Harriet [38]
The Titan Warrant Officer Tally Rutherford [39]
2020 Holly Slept Over Holly [40]
2021 F9 Ramsey [25]
Army of Thieves Gwendoline Starr [41]
Last Train to Christmas Sue Taylor
2022 The Invitation Evelyn "Evie" Jackson [42]
2023 Fast X Ramsey
2024 Arthur the King Olivia
Megalopolis Julia Cicero
The Killer Zee

Television

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Year(s) Title Role Notes Ref.
2006–2010 Hollyoaks Sasha Valentine 191 episodes [10]
2008 Hollyoaks Later Series 1 (4 episodes) [43]
2009 Hollyoaks: The Morning After the Night Before [44]
2011 Casualty Cheryl Hallows Episode: "Only Human" [45]
Misfits Charlie Episode 3.1 [46]
Scream if You Know the Answer! Herself Series 1, episode 9 [47]
2012 Websex: What's the Harm? Herself Presenter [11]
2013–2019 Game of Thrones Missandei Seasons 3–4: recurring (15 episodes)
Seasons 5–8: main role (23 episodes)
2019 Four Weddings and a Funeral Maya Jones Miniseries [18]
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Deet (voice) Main role
2020–present Die Hart Jordan King Main role [48][49]

Radio

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2018 Love Henry James: The Golden Bowl Charlotte Stant [50]

Recognition and awards

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2013 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Game of Thrones Nominated
2014 Nominated [51][52]
2015 Nominated [53][54]
Empire Awards Empire Hero Award (Ensemble) Won [55][56]
2016 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated [57]
2017 Nominated [58]
2019 Nominated
2021 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Die Hart Nominated [59]
2023 Die Hart 2: Die Harter Nominated [60]
2024 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Performance in a Short Form Series Die Hart Nominated [61]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Game of Thrones's Nathalie Emmanuel Gears Up for Furious 7". Vanity Fair. March 2015. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Celeb Birthdays for the Week of March 1–7". The New York Times. 26 February 2015. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  3. ^ Stern, Marlow (29 March 2015). "Game of Thrones' Fetching Consigliere: Nathalie Emmanuel on Missandei and Grey Worm vs. Obama". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Lifelong Jacko fan Louise is set for a Thriller of a time". Southend Standard. 30 April 2010. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Are you excited for Season 5 of Game of Thrones, Southend?". Love Southend. 13 April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  6. ^ "St Hilda's school in Westcliff goes into liquidation". BBC News. 11 July 2014. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  7. ^ a b "'Game of Thrones' puts Nathalie Emmanuel, who plays Emilia Clarke's aide, on the way to royal ranks of acting". Daily News. 6 April 2015. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  8. ^ "'Game Of Thrones' Newbie Nathalie Emmanuel Joins Cast Of 'Fast & Furious 7'". Indiewire. 7 September 2013. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  9. ^ "As Hollyoaks' Gemma Merna leaves the show we look at where the soap's biggest stars are now". Liverpool Echo. 12 November 2014. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  10. ^ a b c "Nathalie Emmanuel goes from Hollyoaks to Hollywood in Game of Thrones". Liverpool Echo. 4 April 2013. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  11. ^ a b "Websex: What's the Harm?, Targeting girls for sex on social networks". BBC. 4 January 2012. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Twenty8k – review". The Guardian. 6 September 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  13. ^ "Nathalie Emmanuel". A & J Management. Archived from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  14. ^ "This 'Game of Thrones' actress was working in a clothing store when she got cast". Mic.com. 7 April 2017.
  15. ^ "'Game of Thrones' scoop: See who's becoming a series regular". Entertainment Weekly. 17 January 2015. Archived from the original on 10 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  16. ^ Saulson, Sumiko (22 November 2019). "From sidekick to romantic lead: rise of the strong black woman". In Frankel, John (ed.). Fourth Wave Feminism in Science Fiction and Fantasy: Volume 2. Essays on Television Representations, 2013-2019. McFarland. pp. 93–109. ISBN 978-1-4766-3866-9.
  17. ^ Romero, Aja (5 May 2019). "Game of Thrones' Missandei controversy, explained". Vox. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  18. ^ a b c Davies, Hannah (11 December 2019). "No-one gets beheaded: Nathalie Emmanuel on life after Game of Thrones". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  19. ^ a b Rodriguez, Rene (3 April 2015). ""Furious" franchise running on fumes". Miami Herald. Miami. p. G10. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  20. ^ "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2015. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  21. ^ "'Maze Runner: The Death Cur' Sets T.S. Nowlin To Pen". Deadline Hollywood. 4 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  22. ^ Grater, Tom (21 March 2016). "John Boyega triumphs at Screen Nation awards". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  23. ^ Rodriguez, Briana (13 April 2017). "Backstage 5 with. . . Nathalie Emmanuel". Back Stage, National edition. Vol. 58, no. 15. New York. p. 3.
  24. ^ a b c Chang, Justin (13 April 2017). "Franchise is just spinning its wheels / Betrayal is at heart of fate". LA Times. Los Angeles. p. E4. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  25. ^ a b "Arts and entertainment". The Star-Democrat. Easton, Maryland. 20 March 2020. p. D5. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  26. ^ "Fast & Furious 9: Every Major Character NOT Returning in the Sequel". ScreenRant. 10 April 2020. Archived from the original on 8 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  27. ^ "'Four Weddings and a Funeral': Andie MacDowell To Appear On Hulu Series, Nathalie Emmanuel To Star in Recasting". Deadline Hollywood. 21 November 2018. Archived from the original on 29 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  28. ^ "'Dark Crystal' Series Voice Cast Includes Mark Hamill, Simon Pegg". Variety. 17 December 2018. Archived from the original on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  29. ^ Colburn, Randall. "John Travolta turns sidekicks into action heroes in this trailer for Kevin Hart's Die Hart". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  30. ^ "Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel to Star in Francis Ford Coppola's 'Megalopolis'". Hollywood Reporter. 12 May 2022.
  31. ^ "If you prefer titillated to terrified, RSVP yes to The Invitation". The A.V. Club. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  32. ^ "Nathalie Emmanuel". FHM. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  33. ^ "FHM 100 Sexiest 2015". FHM. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  34. ^ "Go Behind the Scenes of Our Shoot With Furious 7 Star Nathalie Emmanuel". InStyle. 4 April 2015. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  35. ^ "Think Fast with Khaleesi's Sidekick". GQ. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  36. ^ Brotherton, Hollie (14 March 2017). "10 things you need to know about Nathalie Emmanuel". Glamour. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  37. ^ Weintraub, Steve (10 April 2015). "Nathalie Emmanuel Talks Game of Thrones, Furious 7, and Maze Runner 2". collider.com. Collider Cryptomedia. Archived from the original on 9 January 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  38. ^ Murphy, Shaunna (21 September 2015). "The "Scorch Trials" sequel will definitely feature more butt-kicking ladies". mtv.com. MTV. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  39. ^ "The Titan". radiotimes.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  40. ^ Galuppo, Mia (25 September 2017). "Nathalie Emmanuel, Ron Livingston to Star in Comedy 'Holly Slept Over' for LD Entertainment (Exclusive)". hollywoodreporter.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  41. ^ Snyder, Zack (17 October 2020). "Busy here in LA editing #AOTD. Meanwhile, in Germany/Prague, the prequel starts filming this week! Nathalie Emmanuel, Stuart Martin, Matthias Schweighöfer, Guz Khan, Ruby O´Fee - and additionally: Jonathan Cohen, Noémi Nakai, Peter Simonischek". Twitter. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  42. ^ Kroll, Justin (17 May 2021). "'Game Of Thrones' Alum Nathalie Emmanuel And Garrett Hedlund To Star in Screen Gems' Horror Pic 'The Bride'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  43. ^ "Hollyoaks Later". limepictures.com. Lime Picture. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  44. ^ "Episode Four - Hollyoaks: The Morning After the Night Before". youtube.com. Hollyoaks (official YouTube Channel). 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  45. ^ "Casualty: Series 25 - Episode 28". radiotimes.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  46. ^ "Misfits (2009) Series 3, Episode 1". comedy.co.uk. British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 14 March 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  47. ^ "Scream if you Know the Answer!". radiotimes.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  48. ^ Ogunsola, Jennifer (21 July 2020). "'Die Hart' Star Nathalie Emmanuel Manifested Her Breakout Role". essence.com. Essence. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  49. ^ Maitland, Hayley (22 July 2020). "'Game Of Thrones' Star Nathalie Emmanuel Is Just Getting Started". vogue.co.uk. Vogue. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  50. ^ "DramaLove Henry James: The Golden Bowl". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 7 October 2018. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
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  54. ^ Hipes, Patrick (25 January 2015). "SAG Awards: Birdman Flies Even Higher & Orange Is The New Black Shines – List Of Winners". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  55. ^ Barraclough, Leo (30 March 2015). "Interstellar wins Film, Director at Empire Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  56. ^ "Empire Hero Award 2015". Empire. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  57. ^ "SAG Awards Nominations: Complete List". Variety. 9 December 2015. Archived from the original on 11 December 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  58. ^ Nolfi, Joey (14 December 2016). "SAG Awards nominations 2017: See the full list". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 11 January 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  59. ^ "73rd Emmy Awards Nominations". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  60. ^ "Outstanding Actress In A Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series Nominees / Winners 2023". Television Academy. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  61. ^ Hipes, Patrick (25 January 2024). "Colman Domingo, Keke Palmer, Ayo Edebiri, Victoria Monét Lead NAACP Image Awards Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
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