Emily Hampshire

Here’s a detailed profile of Emily Hampshire, the Canadian actress:

Emily Hampshire – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Emily Hampshire is a Canadian actress known for Schitt’s Creek, 12 Monkeys, Chapelwaite, The Rig, and many film roles. This article explores her biography, career trajectory, style, personal life, and notable quotes.

Introduction

Emily Hampshire is a Canadian (and American-naturalized) actress whose versatility has made her a fixture in both Canadian and international film and television.

She is perhaps most widely recognized for playing Stevie Budd on the hit CBC sitcom Schitt’s Creek (2015–2020).

But her body of work spans genres—from drama to comedy, voice acting to supernatural thrillers—and includes roles in 12 Monkeys, Chapelwaite, The Rig, Cosmopolis, and more.

In this article, we’ll trace her journey from Montreal child actor to international name, examine her artistic style and challenges, and highlight a few of her memorable quotes.

Early Life and Background

• Hampshire was born in Montreal, Québec, Canada.

• Her birth year is somewhat disputed in public sources: some say 1979, others 1981.

• She discovered a love for acting at age 11, after attending a performance of Les Misérables.

• In high school, her vice principal (at her all-girls Catholic school) praised her in a school theatrical production, helping to reinforce her confidence in pursuing the craft.

• At 16, she moved from Montreal to Toronto to more actively pursue roles in television and film.

• She was accepted into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts post-high school, but did not attend, as filming commitments conflicted.

Thus, she pursued a practical, on-the-job path into acting rather than formal longer training.

Career and Achievements

Early Work & Canadian Foundations

• Hampshire began professional work in the mid-1990s.

• She starred in Canadian television series including This Space For Rent, Carl², Northern Town.

• In 1999, she played Margaret in The Life Before This, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Film Breakthroughs & Dramatic Roles

• In 2006, she appeared as Vivienne in Snow Cake, sharing screen time with Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, and Carrie-Anne Moss.

• Also in 2006, she was in It’s a Boy Girl Thing as Chanel.

• In the 2004 film Blood, she played Noelle Terry, a role that garnered a Genie Award nomination for Best Actress.

• In 2012, she appeared in Cosmopolis (directed by David Cronenberg) as Jane Melman.

Television — Genre & Mainstream Success

• From 2015 to 2020, she portrayed Stevie Budd on Schitt’s Creek, a role that propelled her international recognition and earned multiple award nominations and wins.

• On 12 Monkeys (Syfy), she played Jennifer Goines, a reimagined version of the character from the film, initially in a recurring role and later promoted to series regular.

• In recent years, she holds leading roles in series such as Chapelwaite (2021+) and The Rig (2023+).

Other Projects & Creative Ventures

• She has also done voice acting: e.g. the character Misery in Ruby Gloom, Diana Barry in Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series, Chloe Crashman in Carl², Starr in 6Teen, Alyson Malitski in Braceface.

• In 2023, she co-wrote the graphic novel Amelia Aierwood: Basic Witch, published by Z2 Comics.

Awards & Recognition

• Hampshire has been honored with many Canadian Screen Awards, Canadian Comedy Awards, Gemini Awards, and more.

• In 2012, she and Sarah Gadon were presented with the first Birks Canadian Diamond Award at Cannes for contributions to Canadian talent.

Style, Strengths & Artistic Identity

• Emily Hampshire often plays complex, dimensional characters—balancing humour, pathos, subtlety, and edge.

• She does not shy away from darker or quirky roles (e.g. Blood), but she also excels in comedic timing, which served her well on Schitt’s Creek.

• Her voice acting and genre roles show she is comfortable moving between mediums and genres.

• She often emphasizes immersive location shooting and fully inhabiting character environments in her approach.

• She has spoken about wanting to choose the projects she does, rather than only taking roles out of necessity.

Personal Life & Identity

• Hampshire holds dual citizenship: Canadian and U.S. (naturalized in September 2014).

• She moved to Los Angeles in 2007.

• Hampshire is pansexual. She came to identify the term more clearly after a Schitt’s Creek scene involving David Rose’s “wine metaphor” about labels.

• She was married to Matthew Smith (2006–2014).

• In 2018, she was in a relationship with singer Teddy Geiger, and they became engaged in November 2018. They ended their engagement in June 2019.

Famous Quotes

Here are several memorable quotes attributed to Emily Hampshire:

• “I like to shoot on location ’cause I can just immerse myself in the world of the movie.”

• “I’m lazy and I do procrastinate about laundry!”

• “I realize how lucky I am to be able to go a couple months without a paycheck, but a lot of industry people go paycheck to paycheck.”

• “When you’re working as an actor when you’re younger, or even when you’re older, it’s carney life. You go from one show to the other and you make these quick makeshift families.”

• “I never did commercials. Not that I didn’t want to, but because I can’t. I am just so bad at it.”

These lines reflect her self-awareness, humour, and candid views of the artistic life.

Lessons from Emily Hampshire

1. Embrace flexibility in medium and genre. Hampshire’s career shows strength in adapting between film, TV, voice roles, and graphic storytelling.

2. Own your identity. Her journey of self-recognition (e.g. around pansexuality) shows how personal growth and public life can intertwine.

3. Quality over quantity. Though prolific, she seems deliberate in choosing roles that resonate.

4. Immerse in environment. Her preference for location work suggests she values authenticity in character work.

5. Long game matters. From early Canadian roles to international success, her path shows patience and steady craft.

Conclusion

Emily Hampshire is a dynamic actor whose career spans decades and geographies. From Montreal beginnings to leading roles in genre series and beloved sitcoms, she has cultivated range, depth, and a distinct voice. Her willingness to explore identity, challenge norms, and traverse genres makes her both inspiring and influential.

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