Emma Rigby

**Emma Catherine Rigby** is an English actress. She is best known for playing the role of Hannah Ashworth in long-running soap opera Hollyoaks, Gemma Roscoe in BBC One drama series Prisoners' Wives and as the Red Queen in American fantasy-drama Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.

## Early Life

Rigby was born in St Helens, Merseyside to her mother Carole and Steven Rigby. She has an older sister called Charlotte.

## Career

Rigby's first acting role was Lisa Gunstone in *Born and Bred*. Before getting the role as Hannah Ashworth in *Hollyoaks*, she had a few minor roles and appeared in another popular soap, *Brookside*, as Elena Jones.

### ***Hollyoaks***

In 2005, at the age of 15, Rigby was cast as Hannah Ashworth in *Hollyoaks*. She received praise and recognition for her character's anorexia storyline, in which she was nominated for various awards including the British Soap Award for Best Actress in 2008.

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

### **2010 – present**

For a brief time, Rigby also worked as a model, shooting a campaign with the photographer Rory Lewis in late February 2010. From 2009–2011 she starred in several short films, including the award-winning *Talk*.

In July 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.

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 minor role in the first episode of the C4 comedy *Fresh Meat* as Rachel.

In December 2011, it was announced that Rigby would be starring in the brand new 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 minor 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 it was announced that 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 March 2015, Rigby worked alongside James Franco in the movie adaptation of his book *Actors Anonymous*. It was released in 2017.

2016 saw Rigby make 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 US thriller 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 February 2017, it was announced that Rigby would be starring as the female lead in *Hollywood Dirt* which is due to be released on Passionflix in September 2017.

In May 2017, Rigby appeared in the first episode of the final series of *Inspector George Gently* as Betty Platt.

In September 2017, Rigby joined the cast of comedy film *The Festival*. She played Smurf Girl and the film was released in 2018. Also in 2018 she guest starred in the first two episodes of Sky One's Bulletproof.

In October 2018, it was announced that Rigby would join 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.

In 2019, Rigby appeared in A Guide to Second Date Sex as Tufts. In April 2020, it was announced that she would be a part of the cast of BBC Three's tv film Make Me Famous.

## Awards and nominations

In 2007, at the age of 17, Rigby was nominated for Best Actress in the British Soap Awards (being one year too old to qualify for Best Dramatic Performance for a Young Actor/Actress), but did not make it to the final four. She was also nominated for Most Popular Actress at the National Television Awards. A year later, she won The British Soap Award for Best Actress and was nominated for Best Dramatic Performance, but lost to Jo Joyner.

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.

## Trivia

* She went to De La Salle High School and after leaving to act, she achieved nine A scores on her GCSE exam.
* She won a British Soap Award in the Best Actress category in 2008.
* She has one older sister, Charlotte, whom she grew up with in St. Helens, Merseyside.
* She appeared in the 2013 television series Once Upon a Time in Wonderland with John Lithgow.