Emily Browning | |
|---|---|
 Browning in 2011 | |
| Born | Emily Jane Browning (1988-12-07)7 December 1988 (age 36) |
| Education | Eltham High School |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse | |
Emily Jane Browning (born 7 December 1988) is an Australian actress. She made her film debut in the television filmThe Echo of Thunder (1998), and subsequently appeared in television shows such asHigh Flyers (1999),Something in the Air (2000–2001), andBlue Heelers (2000–2002). Her breakthrough role was in the 2002 horror filmGhost Ship, which introduced her to a wider audience. In 2005, Browning won theAustralian Film Institute International Award for Best Actress for her portrayal ofViolet Baudelaire in the filmLemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004).
Browning is also known for her roles in the horror filmThe Uninvited (2009), the action filmSucker Punch (2011), the independent dramaSleeping Beauty (2011), and the epic romantic historical disaster filmPompeii (2014). She was named the Breakthrough Performer of The Year by theHamptons International Film Festival for her role in the latter. Browning's other films includeSummer in February,Plush (both 2013),Legend (2015) andGolden Exits (2017). From 2017 to 2021, she starred as Laura Moon in theStarz TV seriesAmerican Gods. She also had a recurring role inShowtime's drama seriesThe Affair (2018–2019). In 2023, she starred as Zoe inAmazon Prime's Australian apocalyptic survivalist comedy seriesClass Of '07.
Emily Jane Browning was born on 7 December 1988[1] inMelbourne,Victoria, the daughter of Andrew and Shelley Browning. She has two younger brothers, Nicholas and Matthew.[2]
She attended Hurstbridge Learning Co-op andEltham High School.[2]
Browning's debut acting role was in the 1998Hallmark Channel movieThe Echo of Thunder.[3] Additional roles in Australian film and television productions soon followed, including recurring roles in the television seriesBlue Heelers from 2000 to 2002, andSomething in the Air from 2000 to 2001. In 2001, Browning appeared as the daughter of the character played byBilly Connolly inThe Man Who Sued God.[4]
She made her American film debut in 2002'sGhost Ship, and won anAustralian Film Institute Award for Best Young Actress, the same year.[5] In 2003, she appeared oppositeHeath Ledger andOrlando Bloom in 2003'sNed Kelly, and reunited with Connolly the following year in the film adaptation ofLemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, in which she playedViolet Baudelaire.[6]
In 2006, Browning appeared in the music video forEvermore's "Light Surrounding You". In the behind-the-scenes video for the clip, the band stated, "[We] suck as actors, so we decided to get Emily".[7] She attended theL'Oreal Fashion Festival as a festival ambassador on 1 February 2007.[8]
Browning played the lead role in the 2009 horror filmThe Uninvited, an American remake of the 2003 South Korean filmA Tale of Two Sisters. She turned down a request to audition for the role ofBella Swan inTwilight, citing exhaustion, despite an endorsement from series authorStephenie Meyer.[9][10] In 2009, she was cast as Babydoll inZack Snyder's action filmSucker Punch, as a replacement forAmanda Seyfried, who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.[11] Filming took place inVancouver from September 2009 to January 2010,[12] and the film was released on 25 March 2011.[13] In an interview atComic-Con, she confirmed that she would be singing in the film, while claiming that her audition tape brought tears to her casting agent's eyes and the song she selected ("Killing Me Softly") was one ofZack Snyder's wifeDeborah's favourites, which Browning referred to as the "selling point" on her being cast in the role.[14]
In February 2010, it was announced that Browning would play the lead role in the independent Australian filmSleeping Beauty, directed byJulia Leigh.[15][16] She replacedMia Wasikowska, who was committed to a film adaptation ofJane Eyre at the time.[17] The film screened at the 2011Cannes Film Festival and theSydney Film Festival. In a review from the festival,Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardian called the film "Technically elegant with vehemence and control ... Emily Browning gives a fierce and powerful performance ... There is force and originality in Leigh's work".[18] Fionnuala Halligan inScreen International wrote "Browning has gone the distance for her director and together, they have delivered something here that sometimes catches your breath".[19] At the festival Browning said, "Even reading the screenplay, it made me feel uncomfortable. But that was something that attracted me to it. I would prefer to polarise an audience as opposed to making an entertaining film everybody feels ambivalent about."[20]
In 2012, she replaced English actressOphelia Lovibond as female leadFlorence Carter-Wood in the filmSummer in February.[21] The film is based on the book of the same title, byJonathan Smith.[22] In July 2012, Browning was cast inGod Help the Girl, a musical film byBelle and Sebastian front-manStuart Murdoch.[23] Browning played Eve, and the role required live singing.[24] Filming on the production began on 8 July 2012 and wrapped on 12 August 2012.[25]
Browning was cast inCatherine Hardwicke'sPlush alongsideCam Gigandet,[26] replacingEvan Rachel Wood (who was originally attached to the project) due to scheduling conflicts.[27] Browning also starred alongsideXavier Samuel[28] whom she met on the set during filming.Magic Magic, directed by Sebastián Silva, screened at the 2013Sundance Film Festival. Film.com designated the film as a "Top Pick".[29]
Browning starred inPaul W. S. Anderson's 2014 epic romantic historical disaster filmPompeii. The project was filmed inToronto and the city ofPompeii.[30] The film received generally mixed to negative reviews, although Browning's performance was generally assessed more favorably.[31] Browning took a break from filming onPompeii, and returned home to Australia to film a music video for the song "No Matter What You Say" by the bandImperial Teen. The video follows Browning as the lead character, conducting a 'live art-piece'.[32][33]
In 2014, Browning filmedShangri-La Suite. The story follows two young lovers who break out of a mental hospital in 1974 and set out on a road trip toLos Angeles to fulfill the boy's lifelong dream of killing his idolElvis Presley, who appears as a supporting character.Luke Grimes andAvan Jogia co-star.[34] The same year, she appeared inYears & Years's "Take Shelter" music video.[35]
In 2015, Browning appeared in the biopic crime thrillerLegend, alongsideTom Hardy, who portrayed twin brothers and infamous 1960s London gangstersReggie and Ronnie Kray. She portrayed Frances Shea, the first wife of Reggie Kray.[36]
Browning was cast inAmerican Gods as Laura Moon.Neil Gaiman, author of thenovel, said, "I've been fascinated by Emily Browning sinceA Series of Unfortunate Events. She has a challenge ahead of her: Laura is a tricky character, and the Laura on the screen is even trickier and more dangerous than the one on the page. She's going to have a wonderful time bringing Laura to life".[37]
In June 2021, it was announced that Browning would replaceAnna Paquin inAndrea Pallaoro's dramaMonica, joiningTrace Lysette,Patricia Clarkson andAdriana Barraza.[38] She is also set to star in Lance Edmands' thrillerBrightwater, starring alongsideScoot McNairy andJack Reynor.[39]
From 2012 to 2015, Browning was in a relationship withPlush co-starXavier Samuel.[40][41]
She married Eddie O'Keefe in April 2023.[42][43]
When Browning was 21 years old, she moved to London, but then moved to Los Angeles when London became "too expensive to live." She initially disliked Los Angeles but then settled down on theEastside and currently resides there, while sporadically traveling back to her hometown inAustralia.[44][45] She also has spoken on her depression and stated she has been doing therapy ever since being diagnosed.[46]
Browning noted that she isspiritual but not religious: "I like the idea there is something innately magical about human connection. But I don't know, I'm okay with not knowing, and I get pissed off by anyone who claims to know for sure. Adogmatic atheist is just as annoying as aBible-thumping crazy person."[47]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Man Who Sued God | Rebecca Myers | |
| 2002 | Ghost Ship | Katie Harwood | |
| 2003 | Darkness Falls | Young Caitlin Greene | |
| Ned Kelly | Grace Kelly | ||
| 2004 | Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events | Violet Baudelaire | |
| 2005 | Stranded | Penny | |
| 2009 | The Uninvited | Anna Ivers | |
| 2011 | Sucker Punch | Babydoll | |
| Sleeping Beauty | Lucy | ||
| 2013 | Magic Magic | Sara | |
| The Host | Wanda | Uncredited cameo[48] | |
| 2014 | Summer in February | Florence Carter-Wood | |
| Plush | Hayley | ||
| God Help the Girl | Eve | ||
| Pompeii | Cassia | ||
| 2015 | Legend | Frances Shea | |
| Shangri-La Suite | Karen Bird | ||
| 2017 | Golden Exits | Naomi | |
| 2022 | Monica | Laura | |
| 2025 | One More Shot | Post-production[49] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Echo of Thunder | Opal Ritchie | Television film |
| 1999 | High Flyers | Phoebe Mason | Recurring role, 13 episodes |
| 2000 | Thunderstone | Clio | |
| 2000–2001 | Something in the Air | Alicia | Recurring role (seasons 1–2), 5 episodes |
| 2000–2002 | Blue Heelers | Hayley Fulton | Recurring role (seasons 7–9), 9 episodes |
| 2001 | Blonde | Fleece | Television film |
| Halifax f.p: Playing God | Kristy O'Connor | Episode: "Playing God" | |
| 2003 | After the Deluge | Maddy | Television film |
| 2017–2021 | American Gods | Laura Moon / Essie MacGowan | Main role |
| 2018–2019 | The Affair | Sierra | Recurring role (seasons 4–5) |
| 2023 | Class of '07 | Zoe | Main role |
| American Horror Stories | Natessa | Episode: "Organ" |
| Year | Title | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Light Surrounding You" | Evermore |
| 2013 | "No Matter What You Say" | Imperial Teen |
| 2014 | "Take Shelter" | Years & Years |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events | Violet Baudelaire | Voice role |
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| Year | Work | Association | Category | Result | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Halifax f.p. | Australian Film Institute | Young Actor's Award | Won | |
| 2005 | Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events | International Award for Best Actress | Won | [50] | |
| BFCA Awards | Best Young Actress | Nominated | |||
| Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a Feature Film, Leading Young Actress | Nominated | |||
| 2011 | Sleeping Beauty | Hamptons International Film Festival | Breakthrough Performer | Won | [51] |
So, yes, "Sucker Punch" star Emily Browning is Pet!
