In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, she confirmed that she received the news about winning the role when she was working in a clothes store as a shop assistant. The following year, she was cast as Missandei, Daenerys Targaryen's interpreter, in HBO's fantasy drama series Game of Thrones. Later in the same year she made her film debut in the thriller Twenty8k. In January 2012, Emmanuel presented BBC Three's Websex: What's the Harm?, investigating the online sexual habits of 16–24 year olds in the UK. Emmanuel appeared on the show until 2010, her character's storylines included prostitution, and heroin addiction. In 2006, she made her television debut, starring as Sasha Valentine in the soap opera Hollyoaks.

Career Įmmanuel speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con At the age of 10, she played Young Nala in the West End production of the musical The Lion King. In an interview with the New York Daily News, she commented, 'When I was 3, always cause drama that my mum decided maybe I should channel it properly-so she started me on acting, singing and dancing classes'. Emmanuel recalled that her mother first took notice of her passion and desire to become an actress during Emmanuel's attendance at the private St Hilda's School, which closed in 2014, and later the Westcliff High School for Girls grammar school. Her mother is Dominican, and her father is of half- Saint Lucian and half English descent. In 2006, she began her on-screen career by starring as Sasha Valentine in soap opera Hollyoaks, after which she appeared in various British television series until her debut film appearance in Twenty8k.Įmmanuel gained international recognition for her role as Missandei in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones (2013–2019), and continued her career with supporting roles in Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) and its sequel Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018), the Fast & Furious films Furious 7 (2015), The Fate of the Furious (2017), and F9 (2021), and had a role in Army of Thieves (2021).Įmmanuel was born on 2 March 1989 in Southend-on-Sea, a city Essex, England. Emmanuel began her acting career appearing in theatre in the late 1990s, acquiring roles in various West End productions such as the musical The Lion King.

Nathalie Joanne Emmanuel (born 2 March 1989) is an English actress.

Game of thrones cast list wiki