Emily Rose
Emily Rose – Life, Career, and Memorable Insights
A detailed biography of Emily Rose — American actress, voice actor, and television star — covering her early life, major roles (like Haven and Uncharted), personal journey, and thoughtful quotes.
Introduction
Emily Rose (born February 2, 1981) is an American actress best known for her starring role as Audrey Parker in the Syfy series Haven and for voicing / performing motion capture as Elena Fisher in the Uncharted video game franchise. Her work bridges television, voice acting, and genre storytelling — often in supernatural, mysterious, and character-driven settings. In this article, we explore her life, career, acting philosophy, and the lessons her journey offers.
Early Life and Family
Emily Rose was born in Renton, Washington on February 2, 1981. She is the eldest of three children — she has a younger sister and a younger brother.
She graduated from Kent View Christian High School in 1999.
From an early age, she had varied interests. In interviews she has said that at one point she considered becoming a veterinarian, shadowing a real life vet for a day, before realizing she was more drawn to storytelling and acting.
Her faith has been an important dimension of her life. She has spoken about seeking to integrate her Christian beliefs into her art and treating her work as a kind of mission or calling.
Education & Training
After high school, Emily Rose pursued higher education in theatre and acting:
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She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts from Vanguard University (Southern California).
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She then obtained a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Acting from UCLA in 2006.
These formal training experiences helped ground her in both theory and practice, preparing her for the demands of film, television, and voice work.
Career and Major Roles
Emily Rose’s career spans television, voice acting in video games, and occasional film and TV movie roles. Below are some key stages and roles.
Entry into Acting & Early Appearances
Her acting credits begin around 2006–2007. She appeared in television series such as Smith (unaired episodes), John from Cincinnati, Brothers & Sisters, Jericho, ER, Cold Case, Ghost Whisperer, and Two and a Half Men.
These roles provided her with experience in character work and ensemble settings, allowing her to hone her craft in various genres.
Breakthrough via Video Games: Uncharted
One of the distinctive aspects of Emily’s career is her voice and motion capture work in video games. She portrayed Elena Fisher in the Uncharted franchise:
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Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (2007)
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Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)
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Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (2011)
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Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (2016)
Her performance in Uncharted gave her a visibility among gaming communities and demonstrated a blending of acting with performance capture.
In interviews, she has discussed how landing the Uncharted role was both a challenge and an exciting opportunity.
Lead Role in Haven
Emily Rose is perhaps most widely recognized for her role as Audrey Parker (and her multiple incarnations) in the Syfy television series Haven, which aired from 2010 to 2015.
In Haven, her character is sent to the mysterious town of Haven to investigate a crime, but finds herself embroiled in the supernatural “Troubles” that afflict the town. Over the course of the show, Audrey’s identity, past, and different incarnations (Lucy Ripley, Sarah Vernon, Lexie DeWitt, etc.) become central to the series’ mythology.
In interviews, she has spoken about how she was drawn to Audrey’s blend of strength, moral ambiguity, mystery, and emotional vulnerability, and how playing someone who is trying to reconcile her identity and purpose presented a continual challenge.
In Haven, she often balanced being a protector and investigator, while dealing with questions of belonging and identity — themes she has called compelling to play.
She has also spoken about the setting — she appreciated filming in Nova Scotia and how the town’s atmosphere contributed to the show’s tone.
She appeared in Haven through five seasons and played multiple iterations of her character, a demanding role in both narrative and emotional complexity.
Other Projects & Recent Work
Beyond her signature roles, Emily Rose has taken on various other acting jobs:
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In 2018, she guest starred as FBI Special Agent Anna Jenlowe in an episode of NCIS.
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She has also appeared in Hallmark / TV movies and other TV series, including Graceland, Private Practice, Matchmaker Christmas, etc.
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Also credited in video/game roles: beyond Uncharted, she is credited in God of War Ragnarök (voice role) as Sif.
Her career shows versatility: shifting between episodic TV, leading roles, voice & motion capture work, and TV films.
Personality, Creative Approach & Influences
Emily Rose tends to approach her roles with introspection and a desire for meaningful character arcs. In interviews she emphasizes:
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The mystery of characters: She mentioned the challenge of Audrey’s origin and not always knowing who she is, and balancing strength with vulnerability.
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The importance of well-written characters: She once said she was drawn to Haven because the characters were quirky, layered — not just the usual tropes.
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Blending faith and art: She has described asking herself where her faith should intersect with her roles, choosing parts that align (or challenge) her beliefs.
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Working in genre settings: She has expressed appreciation for supernatural, mysterious, or speculative stories, as they offer metaphorical freedom to explore identity, morality, and transformation.
She is also known to be relatively guarded in public, letting her work speak, but in interviews she reveals a thoughtful, grounded approach to her craft.
Memorable Quotes
Here are several quotations (or paraphrased statements) attributed to Emily Rose, reflecting her perspective on acting, gender, storytelling, and character:
“It’s so rare that you actually get to find a really well-written female lead.” “What’s so great about playing a female lead, especially in law enforcement, is that these women do exist, and they’re really quite interesting.” “Art imitates life. It’s definitely helpful to feel that way. You feel that way when you’re leading a show and you’re on a set.” From an interview: on Audrey in Haven, when asked what keeps challenging her:
“I think just her mystery of herself and where she comes from. … I constantly am challenged by her toughness and how she would handle trying to walk that fine line between trying to be a nurturer … with also the tough skin and the defensiveness that she had to build up individually…”
These lines point to how she views her roles as explorations of identity, complexity, and authenticity.
Lessons & Inspirations from Emily Rose’s Journey
Emily Rose’s path offers several insights valuable to aspiring actors, storytellers, and anyone navigating creative life:
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Train deeply, not just broadly
Her pursuit of formal acting education (BA + MFA) demonstrates the value of foundational training, which supports adaptability across mediums (TV, voice, motion capture). -
Embrace genre work as a canvas
Working in supernatural or speculative stories can allow deeper emotional and symbolic storytelling — and can help actors stand out. -
Seek roles of substance
Her comments suggest she selects roles not just for exposure but for what they allow her to explore — identity, moral tension, inner conflict. -
Balance public and private
She maintains a relatively low profile off-screen, letting her performances define her public identity. That balance can preserve longevity. -
Let faith or personal values inform choices
In her case, her Christian beliefs have influenced how she views her work, leading her to ask not just what roles she takes, but why. -
Versatility can be a strength
Being able to shift between voice acting, television, film, and genre settings provides resilience in an unpredictable industry.
Conclusion
Emily Rose is a multifaceted American actress whose career spans television, video games, and genre storytelling. Her signature roles — Audrey Parker in Haven and Elena Fisher in Uncharted — showcase her range, her affinity for mystery and moral complexity, and her commitment to authenticity. Beyond her performances, she presents a model for integrating life and art, choosing roles with intention, and valuing depth over mere visibility.