Emily Hampshire

Early life and education

Emily Hampshire was born in Montreal, Quebec, to a father named Robert Hampshire who worked as a dentist. Her interest in acting was sparked at the age of 11 after attending a performance of the musical Les Misérables with her mother. This initial fascination was further encouraged during her time at an all-girls Catholic school, where her vice principal praised her performance in a school theatre production. At the age of 16, Hampshire moved to Toronto to actively pursue roles in television and film. Shortly after graduating high school, she was accepted into the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts but ultimately chose not to attend because the commitment conflicted with an early film opportunity.

Career breakthrough and film work

Emily Hampshire began her professional acting career in 1996, steadily building a reputation in Canadian television and film. An early feature film role came in 1999 when she played Margaret in Jerry Ciccoritti's The Life Before This, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. She gained wider recognition in the 2006 romantic comedy It's a Boy/Girl Thing, starring alongside Kevin Zegers and Samaire Armstrong as the character Chanel. Hampshire further demonstrated her range in notable Canadian indie projects, including a role as Leon Trotsky's love interest in the 2009 comedy The Trotsky and a lead part in the 2010 thriller Good Neighbours.

Her film work expanded to include international productions, most notably a supporting role as Jane Melman in David Cronenberg's 2012 film Cosmopolis. That same year, she received positive critical notice for her performance in Sean Garrity's comedy My Awkward Sexual Adventure. Hampshire has also contributed her voice to several animated series, creating memorable characters for a generation of Canadian viewers. Her voice roles include Diana Barry in Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series, Alyson Malitski in Braceface, Chloe Crashman in Carl Squared, Misery in Ruby Gloom, and Starr in 6teen.

In 2023, Emily Hampshire co-wrote the graphic novel Amelia Aierwood, Basic Witch, which was published by Z2 Comics. In 2026, she was nominated for Best Voice Performance at the 14th Canadian Screen Awards. This nomination was for her voiced portrayal of Captain Fuzzyweather in Hulu's The Bravest Knight. These projects demonstrate her work beyond acting.

Major television roles

Hampshire's television career includes a mix of series regular roles and memorable recurring characters. She starred in Canadian series such as This Space For Rent, Carl Squared, and Northern Town early in her career. She initially appeared in a recurring capacity as the unpredictable and brilliant Jennifer Goines, a reimagined version of the character played by Brad Pitt in the original film. Due to the strength of her performance, Hampshire was promoted to a series regular for the show's second season in 2015.

Concurrently, from 2015 to 2020, she played the role of Stevie Budd on the CBC sitcom Schitt's Creek. Her portrayal of the sardonic, loyal motel clerk became a fan favourite and a central part of the show's ensemble cast. Following the conclusion of Schitt's Creek, Hampshire took on leading roles in genre series for streaming platforms. In 2021, she starred in the Epix horror series Chapelwaite, an adaptation of a Stephen King story. The following year, she played a main role as Rose Mason in the Amazon Prime thriller series The Rig, starring alongside Iain Glen, Owen Teale, and Mark Addy.

Awards and recognition

Emily Hampshire's work has been recognized with awards and nominations throughout her career. In 2012, she and fellow actress Sarah Gadon were presented with the inaugural Birks Canadian Diamond award during Telefilm Canada's Tribute to Canadian Talent event in Cannes, France. This honour highlighted her as a rising talent in Canadian cinema. Her voice acting work has also received acclaim, leading to a nomination in 2026 for Best Voice Performance at the 14th Canadian Screen Awards. This nomination was for her portrayal of 'Captain Fuzzyweather' in the Hulu series The Bravest Knight.

Selected filmography

Emily Hampshire has been professionally active in the Canadian film and television industry since 1996. Her career includes starring in the Canadian series This Space For Rent, Carl², and Northern Town. She played Margaret in the 1999 feature film The Life Before This, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. More recently, she has held leading roles in the series Chapelwaite in 2021 and The Rig in 2022.

Emily Hampshire provided voice acting for the 2010 video game Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight, playing the character Lillian Parker. She also appeared in the 2021 music video for The Tragically Hip's single "Not Necessary" from their EP Saskadelphia. These are examples of her work outside of traditional film and television roles. Her career encompasses a variety of creative media.

Key voice acting roles

• Diana Barry in Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series
• Alyson Malitski in Braceface
• Chloe Crashman in Carl Squared
• Misery in Ruby Gloom
• Starr in 6teen
• Captain Fuzzyweather in The Bravest Knight (2026 CSA nomination)

Her voice work was recognized with a nomination in 2026. She was nominated for Best Voice Performance at the 14th Canadian Screen Awards. This nomination was specifically for her portrayal of Captain Fuzzyweather in Hulu's The Bravest Knight. It highlights the quality of her contributions to voice acting.

Personal life and residences

Emily Hampshire has been open about her pansexual orientation. In 2006, she married Matthew Smith, a former football player who was training to become an agent at the William Morris Agency. The couple divorced in 2014, shortly before Hampshire was cast in Schitt's Creek. In September 2018, it was confirmed that she was in a relationship with singer-songwriter Teddy Geiger, and the pair became engaged in November of that year. They ended their engagement on June 10, 2019.

In 2007, Emily Hampshire moved to Los Angeles. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in September 2014. Currently, she divides her time between Los Angeles and Toronto. These personal moves have occurred alongside her professional career in entertainment.

• 2006: Married Matthew Smith.
• 2007: Moved to Los Angeles.
• 2014: Became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Divorced Matthew Smith.
• 2015: Began her role as Stevie Budd on Schitt's Creek.
• 2018: Began a relationship with Teddy Geiger. Became engaged in November.
• 2019: Ended engagement with Teddy Geiger on June 10.

Questions about Emily Hampshire

Is Emily Hampshire from Canada?

Yes, Emily Hampshire is Canadian. She was born in Montreal, Quebec, and began her acting career in Toronto at the age of 16. While she became a naturalized United States citizen in 2014 and lives part-time in Los Angeles, she continues to work frequently on Canadian productions and maintains a residence in Toronto. Her early work was predominantly in Canadian film and television.

What animated shows has Emily Hampshire voiced?

Emily Hampshire has an extensive voice acting career in Canadian animated series. She voiced Diana Barry in Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series and Alyson Malitski in Braceface. Her other notable voice roles include Chloe Crashman in Carl Squared, Misery in Ruby Gloom, and Starr in 6teen. This work led to a 2026 Canadian Screen Award nomination for her voice performance in Hulu's The Bravest Knight.

Was Emily Hampshire in a movie with David Cronenberg?

Yes, Emily Hampshire starred in David Cronenberg's 2012 film Cosmopolis. In the film, she played the role of Jane Melman. This occurred in the same year she received the Birks Canadian Diamond award in Cannes. She also co-starred in the comedy film My Awkward Sexual Adventure that year.

What is Emily Hampshire best known for?

Emily Hampshire is best known for her roles as Stevie Budd in the CBC television series Schitt's Creek and Jennifer Goines in the Syfy series 12 Monkeys. Her career includes notable film roles such as Angelina in Boy Meets Girl and Vivienne in Snow Cake. She has also provided significant voice work for animated series, voicing Alyson Malitski in Braceface and Diana Barry in Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series. She has held leading roles in the series Chapelwaite in 2021 and The Rig starting in 2023. Her professional activity in the Canadian film and television industry began in 1996, establishing a long and varied career.

What awards has Emily Hampshire won?

In 2012, Emily Hampshire was presented with the first Birks Canadian Diamond award during Telefilm Canada's inaugural Tribute to Canadian Talent event in Cannes, France. She received this honour alongside fellow actress Sarah Gadon. She has received award nominations for her work, including a nomination for Best Voice Performance at the 14th Canadian Screen Awards in 2026 for her portrayal of Captain Fuzzyweather in Hulu's The Bravest Knight. Her performance in the 2012 comedy film My Awkward Sexual Adventure also garnered positive critical notice, contributing to her recognition in the industry.

What is Emily Hampshire's role in The Rig?

In the Amazon Prime television series The Rig, Emily Hampshire played a main role as Rose Mason. This series was released in 2022 and features her starring alongside actors Iain Glen, Owen Teale, and Mark Addy. The Rig represents one of her leading television roles in her career, which also includes being a series regular on 12 Monkeys and a lead in Chapelwaite. Her involvement in this project is part of her ongoing work in television, demonstrating her versatility across different genres from comedy to drama and thriller.

Sources and further reading

• Emily Hampshire (Wikipedia)
• Speaker Emily Hampshire, Banff World Media Festival 2023 (banffmediafestival.playbackonline.ca)
• Emily Hampshire (broadwaypodcastnetwork.com)
• Emily Hampshire (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca)
• Emily Hampshire, Actor Bio, Age & Photos (pureglam.tv)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-31.