From the catwalk to the screen: the unexpected evolution of Emma Laird
In short: Before she was a rising star in Hollywood, Emma Laird spent seven years navigating the high-pressure world of fashion modeling. Her transition from the runway to acclaimed acting roles reveals a striking pursuit of creative agency over the rigid demands of the industry.
Emma Laird's journey to the screen began far from the film sets of New York or London. Originally from Chesterfield, Laird completed her A Levels at Tupton Hall School in 2014. Her path to fame was initially paved by the modeling industry, after she was scouted by Models 1 at the Leeds Festival when she was just 18 years old.
For seven years, Laird worked as a model, notably serving as the face of Pandora for their autumn campaign in 2019. However, the experience was far from glamorous. Laird has been vocal about the industry's pressures, describing it as 'very dangerous for young girls' due to repeated instructions to lose weight. Beyond the physical toll, she found the lack of creative freedom unfulfilling, eventually leading her to seek a new path through acting classes at the New York Film Academy.
Her transition to acting has been remarkably swift. In April 2021, she landed her television debut as Iris in the Paramount+ crime thriller Mayor of Kingstown. Her talent was quickly recognized by industry leaders; Variety named her one of the '10 Brits to Watch' in October 2021, and The Hollywood Reporter noted the significant buzz surrounding her concurrent professional offers.
Laird's filmography continues to expand with high-profile projects, including Kenneth Branagh's A Haunting in Venice (2023) and The Brutalist (2024). Looking ahead, she is set to appear in Danny Boyle's 28 Years Later (2025) and the live-action Elden Ring adaptation, written and directed by Alex Garland, which is scheduled for a March 2028 release. In 2025, she was also recognized as a Screen International Star of Tomorrow.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Emma Laird
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