Emma Rigby

Emma Rigby (born 26 September 1989)

Career Rigby's television debut came in June 2003 as Lisa Gunstone in the BBC's drama series Born and Bred. She also played Elena Jones, schoolfriend of Anthony Murray (Raymond Quinn), in four episodes of the Channel 4 soap Brookside in the same year. She received praise and recognition for her character's anorexia storyline, in which she was nominated for various awards, including winning the British Soap Award for Best Actress in 2008.

In 2008, Rigby announced she was leaving Hollyoaks in November to pursue other projects, and would remain on-screen until June 2009. However, after meetings with soap bosses, Rigby extended her contract for an additional six months and remained on-screen until February 2010. Her final episode was broadcast on 11 February 2010.

It was announced in November 2023 that Rigby would return to Hollyoaks in 2024. She remained on the show until July of that year.

In 2010, Rigby made her debut in the West End thriller musical Wolfboy. She had a non-singing part, playing the role of nurse Cherry. She received positive feedback from critics. Rigby has modelled for over a decade, shooting a campaign with the photographer Rory Lewis in late February 2010. From 2009 to 2011 she starred in several short films, including the award-winning Talk.

In 2011, Rigby starred as Brandy Mulligan in online series Becoming Human. The same year, she appeared in the horror film Demons Never Die, and in September she had a role in the first episode of the C4 comedy Fresh Meat as Rachel.

In 2012, Rigby starred in the six-part drama series Prisoners' Wives, along with Jonas Armstrong. The show's first episode aired on 31 January 2012. Rigby played Gemma Roscoe, a young pregnant girl whose life falls apart when her husband is arrested for murder. In March 2012, she had a guest role in Pramface as Mike's blind date Carrie-Ann. In June 2012, it was announced that she had scored the female lead in The Physician alongside Ben Kingsley. The film was released in late 2013. Also in 2013, she made her US film debut with a role in the Ridley Scott film The Counsellor.

In 2013, Rigby appeared in episode four of Ripper Street as Lucy Eames, and in episode one of The Job Lot.

In April 2013, Rigby was cast in a lead role as the Red Queen in the U.S. television series Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. In 2014 she starred in the remake of Endless Love and also played the female lead in the British crime film Plastic which is based on a true story, about a group of English university students running a successful credit card scam. In 2015, Rigby worked alongside James Franco in the movie adaptation of his book Actors Anonymous. It was released in 2017.

In 2016, Rigby made a return to British television after a three-year absence, with a guest appearance on Death in Paradise. Also in 2016, she had a minor role in the US television remake of Mother, May I Sleep with Danger? which premiered on Lifetime on 18 June. In the summer of 2016, Rigby signed on for her first female lead in a US film, starring as Angie in romantic comedy A Cinderella Christmas. It was filmed during that summer and released in December of the same year. She also shot American crime thriller drama American Violence, playing Olivia Rose, which was released in early 2017.

In 2017, Rigby starred as the female lead in Hollywood Dirt which released on Passionflix in September. In May, Rigby appeared in the first episode of the final series of Inspector George Gently as Betty Platt. In September, Rigby joined the cast of comedy film The Festival. She played Smurf Girl and the film was released in 2018.

In 2018, Rigby guest starred in the first two episodes of Sky One's Bulletproof. In October, Rigby joined the cast of the West End production of Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution. Rigby played Romaine Vole in the play, and made her first appearance in the role at London's County Hall on 20 November 2018 and her final appearance on 26 May 2019. During the Summer, she played Shelley in a newly adapted Black Country version of Amanda Whittington's play Ladies' Day at The Wolverhampton Grand.

In 2019, Rigby appeared in A Guide to Second Date Sex as Tufts.

In 2020, she joined the cast of BBC Three's television film Make Me Famous.

In 2021, she had a featured role in the horror film The Power, as Babs.

Personal life Rigby was on FHM'''s 100 Sexiest Women of 2015.

She is an ambassador for the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development CAFOD and for the Douai Foundation.

Filmography +Key Denotes projects that have not yet been released Film Year Title Role Notes 2009 A Kingdom Without a King Alicia Waterstone Short film 2010 Talk Eloise Short film 2011 Demons Never Die Samantha Analogue Love Maggie Short film 2013 Girl on a Bicycle Gail The Counselor Tony's Girlfriend The Physician Rebecca 2014 Endless Love Jenny Plastic Frankie 2016 Mother, May I Sleep with Danger? Vampire Television film A Cinderella Christmas Angie Wells Television film 2017 Actors Anonymous Bree American Violence Olivia Rose Fabio D'Andrea: The Sleeping Beauty The Princess Short film Hollywood Dirt Summer 2018 The Festival Smurf Girl My Butterfly Trix Smith Short film 2019 The Protector Camille Logan A Guide to Second Date Sex Tufts 2020 Make Me Famous Michelle Television film 2021 The Power Babs 2025 The Physician II Rebecca 2026 Tracie Andrews Channel 5 drama

Television Year Title Role Notes 2003 Born and Bred Lisa Gunstone Episode: "The Magnificent Colin" Brookside Elena Jones Recurring role; 4 episodes 2005–2010, 2024 Hollyoaks Hannah Ashworth Series regular; 220 episodes 2009 Hollyoaks Later Hannah Ashworth Recurring role; 5 episodes 2011 Becoming Human Brandy Mulligan Series regular; 5 episodes Fresh Meat Rachel Episode: "Series 1, Episode 1" 2012 Prisoners' Wives Gemma Roscoe Series regular; 6 episodes Pramface Carrie Ann Episode: "Man of the Moment" 2013 Ripper Street Lucy Eames Episode: "The Good of This City" 2016 Death in Paradise Laura Hagen Episode: "The Complex Murder" 2017 Inspector George Gently Betty Platt Episode: "Gently Liberated" 2018 Endeavour Carol Thursday Episode: "Cartouche" Bulletproof Sophie Recurring role; 2 episodes 2020 Castlevania Additional voices Recurring role; 10 episodes 2025 Daddy Issues Cyndi Episode: "I'm Your Man"

Stage Year Title Role Venue

2010 Wolfboy|Cherry Trafalgar Studios, London 2018 Ladies Day|Shelly Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton Her portrayal of Hannah Ashworth's battle with anorexia attracted praise. She won best storyline for Hannah's eating disorder at the annual Hollyoaks'' awards. She was up against John Paul and Craig's affair, the "Who pushed Clare?" storyline, and Kris and Jess's relationship. At the All About Soap Bubble Awards in April 2008, Rigby won an award for the 'I'm a Survivor' (for the bravest soul in soap) category.