Nathalie Emmanuel is a British actress renowned for her role as Missandei in HBO’s Game of Thrones and as hacker Ramsey in the Fast & Furious franchise.
She began acting in theater, notably as Young Nala in The Lion King, before transitioning to television with Hollyoaks and later films like Furious 7 and The Invitation.
Emmanuel is also recognized for her voice work in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
Siblings
Nathalie has one older sister named Louise Emmanuel.
Nathalie often shares moments with her sister on social media, highlighting their close relationship.
They grew up together in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, where Nathalie developed her passion for acting.
Career
Emmanuel began her acting journey in theater, where she gained valuable experience.
One of her notable roles was as Young Nala in the West End production of The Lion King.
This role not only showcased her talent but also laid the groundwork for her future in acting.
Emmanuel made her television debut in the British soap opera Hollyoaks, where she played the character Sasha Valentine from 2006 to 2010.
Her performance earned her recognition and helped her build a fan base, setting the stage for her future endeavors.
Emmanuel’s breakout role came when she was cast as Missandei in HBO’s critically acclaimed series Game of Thrones from 2012 to 2019.
Also Read: Lorraine Bracco Siblings: Meet Elizabeth and Salvatore Bracco Jr.
Her character, a translator and advisor to Daenerys Targaryen, became a fan favorite, significantly raising her profile and showcasing her acting skills on a global stage.
Following her success in Game of Thrones, Emmanuel joined the Fast & Furious franchise, first appearing in Furious 7 as Ramsey, a skilled hacker.
She reprised this role in subsequent films, including The Fate of the Furious and F9, further solidifying her status as an action star.
In addition to her live-action roles, Emmanuel lent her voice to the character Deet in Netflix’s animated series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
Emmanuel continues to take on diverse roles and is set to appear in upcoming projects such as Megalopolis, an ambitious film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and Die Hart 2, a sequel to the popular series featuring Kevin Hart.
Awards and accolades
Emmanuel has received several awards and nominations throughout her career.
She was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for her role in Game of Thrones multiple times from 2014 to 2019.
In 2015, she won the Empire Hero Award (Ensemble) at the Empire Awards.
Emmanuel has also been nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards twice, in 2021 and 2023, for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her work in Die Hart.
Additionally, she received a nomination for the NAACP Image Awards in 2024 for Outstanding Performance in a Short Form Series, again for Die Hart.
Personal life
Emmanuel’s boyfriend is Alex Lanipekun, a British actor known for his roles in various television series and films.
The couple has been together since at least 2018 and was recently spotted at the Cannes premiere of Megalopolis.
Lanipekun has appeared alongside Emmanuel in the film Twenty8k and is recognized for his roles in 24: Live Another Day, Homeland, and Troy: Fall of a City.
He gained significant recognition in the UK for his role in the spy series Spooks as junior case officer Ben Kaplan.