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Famously known as Stevie, Emily Hampshire has become a household name after the success of the hilarious TV series, Schitt’s Creek. Emily’s portrayal of the sarcastic independent motel owner has won millions of hearts. But who is Emily Hampshire and how has this Canadian actress made a massive mark in a short span of time? Let’s find out more about Emily Hampshire and her acting journey from her first movie, Dead Innocent!
| Date of Birth | 29 August 1981 |
| Birth Place | Montreal, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Popular Shows or Movies | Schitt’s Creek (2015), My Awkward Sexual Adventure (2012), 12 Monkeys (2015) |
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This Blog Includes:
Early Life and Education
Emily was born in Montreal, Canada in 1981. She belonged to a family with no relation to the film industry. However, after watching a performance of Les Miserables with her mother, she became dedicated to pursuing ‘acting’ as a profession.
She attended an all-girls Catholic school, Queen of Angels Academy which she disliked at first. From early on, her passion for acting was visible to her parents and teachers. Her interests were solidified by the vice-principal of her school, who praised her performance during a school theatre production. Her school became a budding platform for her passion. In 11th grade, she participated in the high-school play, ‘Anne of Green Gables.’ She essayed the role of ‘Anne Shirley’ and earned accolades from her vice-principal.
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Beginning of her Acting Career
At the age of 14, she entered the T.V. industry as a child artist. In the year 1994, she played the role of ‘Sandy’ in a few episodes of the TV series ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark?’ A casting director noticed her in a play and she got her first role. Hampshire’s first film, ‘Dead Innocent,’ released in 1996. There she received guidance from the Oscar nominee Genevieve Bujold who played her mother in the film. At just 16 years of age, she moved to Toronto. There, she portrayed the role of ‘Heather’ in the same series and her acting career began from there.
After the completion of her high school, she was accepted into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, but she was met with a film opportunity due to which she couldn’t attend it.
Professional Life
Emily Hampshire has been a popular face in the Canadian film and T.V. industry since 1996. In 1998, she played ‘Angelina Milleflores’ in the movie ‘Boy Meets Girl.’ Even though her work was widely praised, she became typecast as the ‘quirky’ girl, according to the actor. Her initial works were the Canadian series This Space For Rent, Carl, and Northern Town. She played Margaret in The Life Before This, a feature film directed by Jerry Ciccoritti, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 1999.
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Filmography of Emily Hampshire
In 2006, she starred in the film ‘Snow Cake.’ After the movie, Hampshire moved to Los Angeles. Her co-star in the movie, Alan Rickman mentored her and introduced her to the stalwarts of the industry. The same year, she played in a popular rom-com ‘It’s a Boy/Girl Thing’, alongside Kevin Zegers and Samaire Armstrong. This is followed by a thread of numerous movies that Emily did, such as ‘In Shadow’ (2003), ‘The Trotsky’ (2009), and ‘Good Neighbors’ (2010). She has also starred in various TV movies and shows, such as ‘The Last Don’ (1997), ‘Love Letters’ (1999), ‘The Ride’ (2000), ‘Foolish Girl’ (2003), and ‘Northern Town’ (2006).
Emily has also worked as a voice actor in many animated series, such as ‘Ruby Gloom’ and ‘Anne of the Green Gables.’ She played the voice of ‘Chloe’ in ‘Carl Squared,’ of ‘Starr’ in ‘6Teen,’ and of ‘Alyson’ in ‘Braceface.’ In 2010, she played ‘Lillian Parker’ in the video game ‘Command and Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight.’
More Recent Works
Her body of work has been wide-ranging and equally impressive. She received notable recognition and fame for her role of ‘Julia Bowe’ in Sean Garrity’s comedy film ‘My Awkward Sexual Adventure.’ She was also casted in the futuristic zombie film, The Returned. In 2014, her role in the Syfy series ‘12 Monkeys’ in the recurring role of Jennifer Goines, a reimagined version of the iconic role played by Brad Pitt’s character in the original movie. In late 2015, Hampshire was a part of Xavier Dolan’s independent film The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, which also stars Jessica Chastain, Kathy Bates, and Susan Sarandon. In 2017, Hampshire played a small, yet significant role in the Darren Aronofsky-directed film ‘Mother!’.
From 2015 to 2020, she played Stevie Budd in the CBC sitcom Schitt’s Creek. Her portrayal of a cynical, yet sensitive small-town receptionist, Stevie Budd in the Pop Network sitcom ‘Schitt’s Creek’ has been highly acclaimed by critics and the audience.
Awards and Achievements
On May 23, 2012, in Cannes, France, Hampshire and fellow actress Sarah Gadon were presented with the first Birks Canadian Diamond award during Telefilm Canada’s inaugural Tribute To Canadian Talent press event and reception. This was for her career and work in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis (2012). Emily Hampshire has made an indelible mark on the Canadian film and television industry in a relatively short period of time. Her work has been recognized by the Canadian Academy of Cinema and Television with 3 Genie Award Nominations, a Gemini Award for her work on the small screen and was chosen by her peers in the Canadian Actors Guild as a nominee for ‘Outstanding Female Performance’ at the ACTRA Awards.
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Emily Hamphire’s impressive performance and advocacy for the LGBTQ community has made her one of the most admirable actresses in the world! To know more about great personalities and change-makers, follow Leverage Edu on Facebook and Instagram!
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