Emily Carey has built an impressive screen career by taking on remarkably different roles across television, film, theatre, animation, and voice acting. Born in London in 2003, Carey began performing professionally as a child before moving into major television and film productions.

For many viewers, Carey became widely recognizable through roles such as young Diana Prince in Wonder Woman, young Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, young Alicent Hightower in HBO’s House of the Dragon, and Harriet Manners in Netflix’s Geek Girl. Their career demonstrates how early-stage theatrical experience can develop into opportunities across some of entertainment’s most recognizable franchises.

What makes Emily Carey particularly interesting is the variety of characters they have played. Rather than being associated with a single genre, Carey has moved between fantasy, action, teen drama, comedy, historical storytelling, animation, and voice work.

Quick answer: Emily Carey is a London-born actor known for House of the Dragon, Geek Girl, Wonder Woman, Tomb Raider, Casualty, and other film and television projects. They began their professional career in theatre before establishing themselves on screen.

Who Is Emily Carey?

Emily Carey is a British actor who began working professionally at a young age. According to IMDb’s biography, Carey made their professional theatre debut at age nine in Shrek The Musical at Theatre Royal Drury Lane before appearing as Marta von Trapp in The Sound of Music at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.

That early theatre background is an important part of understanding Carey’s development as a performer. Stage acting requires strong preparation, timing, memorization, and the ability to communicate character to a live audience. Those skills can provide a valuable foundation for screen performance.

Carey’s early television career included the BBC medical drama Casualty, where they played Grace Beauchamp. IMDb lists Carey as appearing in 41 episodes across five seasons, from 2014 through 2021.

Their career subsequently expanded into international film and streaming productions.

Emily Carey Quick Facts

  • Birth date: April 30, 2003
  • Birthplace: London, England
  • Profession: Actor
  • Known for: House of the Dragon, Geek Girl, Wonder Woman, Tomb Raider, and Casualty
  • Professional beginnings: Theatre
  • Major TV role: Young Alicent Hightower in House of the Dragon
  • Breakout franchise appearances: Wonder Woman and Tomb Raider
  • Recent major role: Harriet Manners in Geek Girl

Emily Carey’s Early Acting Career

Before becoming familiar to international audiences, Emily Carey developed their craft through theatre and television.

Their early stage work included productions at prominent London venues. This was followed by television opportunities, including Casualty and Houdini & Doyle. Carey also appeared as Bea in Turn Up Charlie and Mika Cavanaugh in the teen series Get Even.

These projects helped establish Carey as a versatile young performer rather than someone known only for one particular type of character.

Theatre Experience

Theatre was a significant starting point for Carey. Their professional debut came with Shrek The Musical, followed by The Sound of Music. The latter production was nominated for Best Musical Revival at the 2014 Olivier Awards, according to IMDb’s career biography.

Starting on stage can be especially valuable for young performers because it develops discipline and consistency. Unlike a film set, where scenes can be repeated from multiple angles, theatre demands sustained performance in front of a live audience.

Emily Carey in Wonder Woman

One of the major early milestones in Emily Carey’s career came in 2017 when they played young Diana Prince in Wonder Woman.

The film introduced Carey to a huge international audience and placed them in the role of a younger version of Gal Gadot’s iconic character. IMDb lists Wonder Woman as Carey’s feature-film debut.

The significance of this role goes beyond simply appearing in a superhero movie. Playing a younger version of an established character requires an actor to create a believable connection between two performances. The younger portrayal needs to feel distinct while still making sense within the character’s overall development.

For a young actor, appearing in a major studio production such as Wonder Woman was an important step toward larger opportunities.

Emily Carey in Tomb Raider

Carey followed Wonder Woman with another major action franchise.

In 2018’s Tomb Raider, they portrayed young Lara Croft, with Alicia Vikander playing the adult version of the character. IMDb and other entertainment databases identify this as another major early-career role for Carey.

The two franchise roles created an interesting pattern in Carey’s early filmography: they were repeatedly trusted to portray younger versions of recognizable action protagonists.

That experience helped demonstrate their ability to work within large-scale productions while adapting to characters with established histories.

Emily Carey in House of the Dragon

For many television viewers, Emily Carey became especially recognizable through House of the Dragon, HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series.

Carey played young Alicent Hightower, while Olivia Cooke portrayed the older version of the character. The role required Carey to portray Alicent during an important period of her life, before the character’s story progressed into adulthood and political conflict.

Why the Alicent Role Mattered

Alicent is a character whose circumstances change dramatically throughout the story. Playing the younger version therefore required more than simply matching another actor’s appearance or mannerisms.

Carey’s performance helped establish:

  • Alicent’s early personality
  • Her relationships with other major characters
  • Her changing ambitions and responsibilities
  • The emotional foundation for the older version of the character

Carey’s casting was announced in 2021, and House of the Dragon premiered in 2022. IMDb notes that Carey was 17 when cast in the role.

The series became another major turning point in their career, introducing Carey to audiences interested in prestige fantasy television.

Emily Carey as Harriet Manners in Geek Girl

Another defining role came with Netflix’s Geek Girl, where Emily Carey plays Harriet Manners.

The series is based on Holly Smale’s bestselling young-adult book series. Netflix describes Harriet as an awkward teenager whose life changes after being discovered by a London modeling agent. Carey leads the series alongside Emmanuel Imani and Liam Woodrum.

Unlike Carey’s earlier action and fantasy roles, Geek Girl focuses heavily on adolescence, identity, friendships, confidence, and navigating social expectations.

That difference makes the role particularly useful for understanding Carey’s range as a performer.

What Makes Geek Girl Different?

Harriet is not introduced as a conventional glamorous celebrity character. Instead, the story centers on an ordinary teenager suddenly entering an unfamiliar fashion world.

The character’s journey explores themes such as:

  • Self-acceptance
  • Friendship
  • Social pressure
  • Personal confidence
  • Family relationships
  • Growing up
  • Finding individuality

Netflix’s official material emphasizes that Harriet ultimately learns that standing out can be more important than simply trying to fit in.

For Carey, the role offered an opportunity to carry a contemporary coming-of-age series and connect with a younger international audience.

Emily Carey’s Movies and TV Shows

Carey’s filmography covers considerably more ground than their best-known live-action roles.

Some notable credits include:

Film

  • Wonder Woman — Young Diana Prince
  • Tomb Raider — Young Lara Croft
  • Anastasia: Once Upon a Time — Anastasia
  • Where Is Anne Frank — Anne Frank, voice
  • Monster Family 2 — Mila Starr, voice
  • The Lost Girls — Teen Wendy
  • The Canterville Ghost — Virginia Otis, voice

Television

  • Casualty — Grace Beauchamp
  • Houdini & Doyle — Mary Conan Doyle
  • Turn Up Charlie — Bea
  • Get Even — Mika Cavanaugh
  • House of the Dragon — Young Alicent Hightower
  • Platform 7 — Ella Warren
  • Geek Girl — Harriet Manners

This variety is one of the strongest indicators of Carey’s development as an actor. Their credits include mainstream superhero cinema, adventure films, fantasy television, teen drama, literary adaptations, and animated productions.

Voice Acting and Other Creative Work

An often-overlooked part of Emily Carey’s career is voice acting.

Carey provided the voice of Anne Frank in Ari Folman’s animated film Where Is Anne Frank and voiced Mila Starr in Monster Family 2. They also provided voice work for The Canterville Ghost.

Voice acting requires a different approach from conventional on-camera performance. An actor often has to communicate personality, emotion, and movement through vocal performance alone.

Carey’s involvement in animated projects therefore adds another dimension to an already varied career.

What Makes Emily Carey’s Career Stand Out?

Several factors help explain why Carey has remained an interesting emerging name in British and international entertainment.

1. Strong Foundation in Theatre

Beginning on stage gave Carey experience with demanding performance environments from a young age.

2. Experience Across Major Franchises

Roles in Wonder Woman, Tomb Raider, and House of the Dragon gave Carey experience within established entertainment universes.

3. Genre Versatility

Their work covers action, fantasy, comedy, teen drama, animation, and historical storytelling.

4. Ability to Play Different Character Types

Carey’s characters range from iconic younger heroes to morally complicated fantasy characters and contemporary teenagers.

5. International Streaming Exposure

Projects such as Get Even and Geek Girl have helped introduce Carey to audiences well beyond the United Kingdom. Netflix lists Geek Girl as a worldwide streaming title starring Carey.

What’s Next for Emily Carey?

Carey’s career continues to develop across television, film, and voice projects.

Netflix confirmed in July 2025 that Geek Girl would return for a second season, with Emily Carey reprising the role of Harriet Manners. Netflix stated that production was underway and that the second season was planned for 2026.

IMDb also lists additional projects in Carey’s broader filmography, including Life Is Strange, Oddly Flowers, Becoming Capa, and other upcoming or in-production work. Because release schedules can change, readers should check official production or distributor announcements for the latest status.

This next stage of Carey’s career could be particularly interesting because their earlier work has already demonstrated a willingness to move between very different genres.

Frequently Asked Questions About Emily Carey

Who is Emily Carey?

Emily Carey is a British actor known for roles in House of the Dragon, Geek Girl, Wonder Woman, Tomb Raider, and Casualty. They began their professional career in theatre as a child.

How old is Emily Carey?

Emily Carey was born on April 30, 2003.

What is Emily Carey famous for?

Carey is particularly known for playing young Alicent Hightower in House of the Dragon, Harriet Manners in Geek Girl, young Diana Prince in Wonder Woman, and young Lara Croft in Tomb Raider.

Was Emily Carey in Wonder Woman?

Yes. Carey played young Diana Prince in the 2017 film Wonder Woman. It was their feature-film debut.

Who did Emily Carey play in House of the Dragon?

Carey played young Alicent Hightower in House of the Dragon. Olivia Cooke portrayed the older version of the character.

Who does Emily Carey play in Geek Girl?

Carey plays Harriet Manners, the central character in Netflix’s adaptation of Holly Smale’s Geek Girl books.

What are some Emily Carey movies?

Notable film credits include Wonder Woman, Tomb Raider, Anastasia: Once Upon a Time, Where Is Anne Frank, Monster Family 2, and The Lost Girls.

Is Emily Carey returning for Geek Girl Season 2?

Yes. Netflix confirmed that Carey will return as Harriet Manners for the second season, which was planned to premiere in 2026.

Suggested Internal Linking Ideas

If this guest post is being published on an entertainment or celebrity website, consider linking internally to:

  1. House of the Dragon cast guide — Use anchor text such as “House of the Dragon cast.”
  2. Wonder Woman movie guide — Link from the section discussing Carey’s Young Diana role.
  3. Best Netflix teen series — Link from the Geek Girl section.
  4. Tomb Raider movie history — Link from the discussion of young Lara Croft.
  5. British actors to watch — Link from the conclusion or career overview.

Recommended External Authority Sources

For readers who want to verify credits and follow official information, useful sources include:

Conclusion: Why Emily Carey Is an Actor to Watch

Emily Carey has already achieved something many performers spend years pursuing: a career with genuine variety. From theatre and Casualty to major productions such as Wonder Woman, Tomb Raider, and House of the Dragon, Carey has steadily expanded their range.

Their performance as Harriet Manners in Geek Girl further demonstrates that their appeal is not limited to fantasy or action franchises. The role puts Carey at the center of a modern coming-of-age story built around identity, friendship, confidence, and personal growth. Netflix’s confirmation of a second season also points to continued interest in the character and the series.

As Carey moves into the next stage of their career, audiences can expect an increasingly diverse collection of roles across television, film, and voice acting.

If you’re exploring Emily Carey’s movies, TV shows, biography, and latest projects, bookmark this guide and share it with fellow film and television fans. For the most accurate information about upcoming releases, always check official studio, network, and streaming-service announcements.

Kelly Brook