Emily Mortimer built a multifaceted career across stage, television, and film, originating from her early work in student productions at the University of Oxford. A versatile performer, she has moved between high-profile Hollywood features and intimate television dramas while maintaining dual citizenship in the United Kingdom and the United States since her birth in 1971.
Early Career and Education
Born in Finsbury Park to barrister Sir John Mortimer and Penelope Gollop, she attended St Paul's Girls' School before studying Russian at Lincoln College, Oxford. Her academic training included time at the Moscow Art Theatre School. Before establishing herself as an actor, she contributed as a journalist, writing columns for The Daily Telegraph and penning a screenplay adaptation of Lorna Sage’s memoir Bad Blood.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Transition to Television and Film
Her professional breakthrough arrived following a chance encounter with a producer during a university play. This led to a leading role in the 1995 television adaptation of Catherine Cookson’s The Glass Virgin. She subsequently appeared in Sharpe’s Sword and the 1996 series Silent Witness. Her transition to cinema included roles in The Ghost and the Darkness and the 1999 production Notting Hill.
Recognition and Directorial Work
Mortimer garnered critical acclaim for her performance as Elizabeth in Lovely and Amazing, winning a 2003 Film Independent Spirit Award. Her television footprint expanded significantly through her portrayal of Mackenzie McHale in the HBO drama The Newsroom between 2012 and 2014. As a creator and filmmaker, she co-wrote the series Doll & Em and directed the 2021 miniseries The Pursuit of Love.
Diverse Screen Performances
Her filmography spans varied genres, including the thriller Shutter Island, the animated feature Cars 2, and the comedies The Pink Panther and The Pink Panther 2. She has also lent her voice to the English-language version of Howl’s Moving Castle and appeared in period dramas such as Elizabeth and Young Adam. Additional credits include Match Point, Lars and the Real Girl, and the 2020 film Relic.
Fast facts
- Born: 1971, Finsbury Park
- Education: St Paul's Girls' School; Lincoln College
- Citizenship: United Kingdom; United States
- Languages: English; Russian
- Major Award: Film Independent Spirit Award (2003)
- Known Television Role: Mackenzie McHale, The Newsroom
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Emily Mortimer study at university?
She read Russian at Lincoln College, University of Oxford.
Has she worked as a director?
Yes, she wrote and directed the 2021 miniseries The Pursuit of Love and co-created the series Doll & Em.
Achievements
- Educated at Lincoln College
- Worked as actor, screenwriter and stage actor
