Emily Bett Rickards facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Emily Bett Rickards
Rickards at the GalaxyCon Austin convention in 2023
Born	(1991-07-24) July 24, 1991 (age 34) British Columbia, Canada
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2009–present
Signature

Emily Bett Rickards (born July 24, 1991) is a Canadian actress. She is famous for playing Felicity Smoak on Arrow. This was her first TV role. She also played Felicity in other shows like The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl. She even voiced the character in the cartoon series Vixen.

Early Life and Acting Start

Emily Bett Rickards grew up in British Columbia, Canada. Her mom is Dr. Diane Greig. Emily started learning musical theatre and dance when she was young.

She finished high school early. Then, she went to the Vancouver Film School to study acting. After that, she found an agent. Her first professional acting job was in 2009. She appeared in the music video for the Nickelback song "Never Gonna Be Alone".

Her Acting Career

Emily Bett Rickards at PaleyFest in 2015

Becoming Felicity Smoak

Emily's big break came in 2012. She was cast as Felicity Smoak in Arrow. This TV show is based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow. She was first meant to be in just one episode. But everyone loved her character! So, she became a regular cast member from the second season.

People really liked Emily's acting as Felicity. Many said she was a "fan favorite" and a key part of the show's success. She was nominated for many awards for this role. In 2016, a poll of Hollywood experts even put her character, Felicity, on a list of 50 favorite female characters.

Emily left Arrow at the end of its seventh season in March 2019. She returned as a special guest for the show's final episode in November 2019.

The Arrowverse Shows

Emily also played Felicity Smoak in other shows connected to Arrow. These shows are part of what's called the Arrowverse. She appeared in The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl. She also voiced Felicity in the animated show Vixen. In 2013, she was in a short online series called Blood Rush as Felicity.

Movies She Has Been In

In 2014, Emily was in the movie Cowgirls 'n Angels: Dakota's Summer. She played Kristen Rose. In 2015, she had a small role in the movie Brooklyn, which was nominated for an Oscar.

In 2017, she voiced a character named Caitlin in the movie Axis. This film won an award at the Newport Beach Film Festival. She also appeared in a short superhero film called Sidekick.

In 2018, Emily was in the comedy movie Funny Story. This movie won several awards at different film festivals. Emily was also nominated for an award for her acting in it. In 2019, she appeared in the independent film We Need to Talk. She won an award for best actress for this role.

More recently, in 2024, Emily reunited with her Arrow co-star Stephen Amell in the western movie Calamity Jane. She also appeared in the French movie Autumn and the Black Jaguar. Emily will also play the main role of Mildred Burke in Queen of the Ring, a movie about the famous female wrestler.

Other Projects

In 2016, Emily was in a Canadian online series called Paranormal Solutions, Inc.. She also appeared in an episode of the comedy show Comedy Bang! Bang!.

In 2018, Emily performed in a play called Reborning in Vancouver. She later performed the same play in New York in 2019. In September 2018, she narrated an audiobook called The Wicked Ones. This book is part of The Mortal Instruments series.

Helping Others

Emily Bett Rickards uses her fame to help others. In 2016, she started a T-shirt campaign. All the money raised went to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA).

During season four of Arrow, her character, Felicity, became paralyzed. She later walked again using a special microchip. Emily filmed a PSA (public service announcement) with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. This PSA encouraged new treatments for spinal injuries.

In 2019, the Vancouver Film School started the "Emily Bett Rickards Acting Scholarship." This scholarship helps students pay for acting programs. Emily herself helps choose who gets the scholarships.

Filmography

Film

Television

Web

Music videos

Stage

Discography

Awards and Nominations

Film Awards

Television Awards

See also

In Spanish: Emily Bett Rickards para niños