Bio
Emma Roberts is an American actress, model and singer best known for her starring role as Addie Singer, a 13-year-old seventh grader who writes songs about her life in middle school, in the teen sitcom television series Unfabulous, from 2004-2007.
She also has a starring role as Madison Montgomery, a student witch at Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies who is an out-of-control Hollywood teen movie star and party girl, in the horror anthology television series American Horror Story: Coven.
Roberts had a starring role in We're The Millers for NewLine Cinema opposite Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis from director Rawson Marshall Thurber. In the comedy, Sudeikis' character assembles a fake family to smuggle a large shipment of pot across the Mexican border. Roberts plays a tough street girl who is transformed into his daughter by masquerading as an all-American, preppy young woman.
Roberts wrapped production on three films in 2013 — Adult World, directed by Scott Coffey where she plays a recent college graduate who is forced to take a job at an adult book store, due to the bad economy. John Cusack, Evan Peters and Cloris Leachman costar; Empire State for Lionsgate Films, where she plays the love interest to Liam Hemsworth.
Empire State is based on the real life story of two friends who masterminded a large gold heist in Queens, NY in the 1980s. It is directed by Dito Montiel; Palo Alto Stories directed by Gia Copploa and co-starring James Franco. Roberts plays a High School student coming of age and begins a questionable relationship with her soccer coach, played by Franco.
Roberts starred in Gavin Wiesen's The Art of Getting By, alongside a cast including Freddie Highmore, Michael Angarano, Elizabeth Reaser, Alicia Silverstone and Rita Wilson. In this indie romantic comedy, Roberts introduced the role of Sally Howe.
Howe catches the heart of George (Highmore), a boy who is completely opposed to the challenges of growing up in a competitive academic environment. The film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and was released by Fox Searchlight in 2011.
Roberts also had a memorable supporting role in the 2012 Sundance Premiere Celeste and Jesse Forever opposite Rashida Jones which was released by Sony Classics in August 2012.
Roberts starred in Dimension Films' revival of the Scream films. Roberts joined original cast members Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette in the Wes Craven-Kevin Williams fourth installment.
Roberts portrayed Jill, the cousin of Campbell who was the new girl in a new small town. Audiences were shocked to discover Roberts' sweet girl-next-door character turned out to be the killer.
Roberts was also seen in the critically acclaimed Focus Features production It's Kind of a Funny Story opposite Zach Galifianakis and Viola Davis, directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, the British independent thriller 4.3.2.1., directed by BAFTA winner Noel Clarke.
4.3.2.1. was released exclusively in the UK in 2010 and Joel Schumacher's Twelve, based on the novel by Nick McDowell and co-starring Chace Crawford, Kiefer Sutherland, 50 Cent and Ellen Barkin.
Roberts also starred in the indie film What's Wrong with Virginia opposite Ed Harris and Jennifer Connelly which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2012. The film is directed by Dustin Lance Black (Oscar winner for Milk) and Executive Produced by Gus Van Sant.
In February 2010, Roberts co-starred alongside Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Patrick Dempsey, Jennifer Garner, Ashton Kutcher, Carter Jenkins and Julia Roberts in the romantic comedy Valentine's Day.
Jenkins and Roberts re-teamed after sharing the screen in Unfabulous to play a young couple who are contemplating whether to take a crucial step in the relationship. The film is directed by Gary Marshall and was released by Warner Bros.
In 2009, Roberts headlined the DreamWorks hit film Hotel for Dogs as one of two orphaned street kids who convert an old-abandoned hotel into an elaborate fantastical place for stray dogs. Lisa Kudrow and Don Cheadle co-star and the film grossed over 113 million dollars worldwide.
The same year, Roberts starred in two Sundance Film Festival entries. Roberts co-starred in the ensemble drama Lymelife, Executive Produced by Martin Scorsese. In the story, she portrays a young Long Island Lolita in the late 70's opposite Alec Baldwin, Cynthia Nixon and Rory Culkin.
The Derek Martini directed coming-of-age independent premiered to critical acclaim at the Toronto Film Festival and was awarded with the International Critics Prize. It was screened at The Sundance Film Festival in January to further acclaim.
In the other, The Winning Season, opposite actor Sam Rockwell, Roberts plays a member of a local high school girls' basketball team coached by a hasbeen (Rockwell) who is seeking redemption. Lions Gate Films released in summer of 2010 on the specialty circuit.
In Summer 2007, Roberts starred as Nancy Drew in a big screen adaptation of the classic teenage detective novels for Warner Brothers Pictures. The film was directed by Andrew Fleming and produced by Jerry Weintraub. That same year, Roberts was awarded as the ShoWest Female Star of Tomorrow.
From 2004–2007, Roberts starred as Addie Singer in the Nickelodeon hit comedy series Unfabulous, created by Sue Rose. It was one of the highest rated tween series on television.
The show tells the story of a teenage girl who must deal with the trials of growing up, fitting in and being popular. Addie relays her teen angst through writing music and singing songs.
Upon landing her very first audition, Roberts booked the role of Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz's daughter in Blow, which was directed by the late Ted Demme for New Line Cinema.
Soon after, she starred in the Sundance short film Big Love directed by Leif Tilden and starring Sam Rockwell. Roberts went on to play one of the lead roles in the independent feature film Grand Champion opposite Joey Lauren Adams and directed by Barry Tubb.
After the successful premiere of Unfabulous, she starred in the Fox 2000 film Aquamarine. Based on the Alice Hoffman novel of the same name, it is the story of two teen girls who discover a mermaid after their coastal town is ravaged by a hurricane. The film was directed by Elizabeth Allan and produced by Susan Cartsonis.
Roberts has appeared on the covers of Vanity Fair, Seventeen, Teen Vogue, Elle Girl, Women's Health, W and has been profiled in Time, People and The New York Times, among others. She is also a face of Neutrogena.
Originally from New York, Roberts currently resides in Los Angeles. She is the daughter of actor Eric Roberts and niece of Julia Roberts.