Emily Bett Rickards

Emily Bett Rickards
Rickards at the 2017 Heroes & Villains Fan Fest
Born (1991-07-24) July 24, 1991
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation Actress
Years active 2009–present

Emily Bett Rickards[1] (born July 24, 1991) is a Canadian actress, known for portraying Felicity Smoak on The CW television series Arrow as well as its spinoff series The Flash, Vixen, Legends of Tomorrow and related show Supergirl.

Early life

Rickards was born and raised in British Columbia. Her mother is Dr. Diane Greig, a dream psychotherapist in Vancouver, BC.[2][3][4]

Beginning on her career path at a young age, she introduced herself to musical theatre and dance, with the hope of later introducing herself to more serious acting. She graduated from high school early and attended the Vancouver Film School, completing the Acting Essentials Program. After completing the program, she attended an open call audition, which gained her an agent.[1] She studied at the Alida Vocal Studio in Vancouver.[5]

Career

Rickards made her first professional appearance in 2009, starring in the video for the Nickelback single "Never Gonna Be Alone". In early 2012 she filmed a minor role in the film Random Acts of Romance, starring Amanda Tapping[6] and in May filmed a minor role in Flicka: Country Pride, which starred her future Arrow castmate Kacey Rohl.[7] Her breakthrough role came in the same year with her first television casting, as Felicity Smoak in the TV series Arrow.[8] Originally signed as a one-episode guest star,[9] positive reaction from her co-star Stephen Amell[10] and from Warner Brothers producer Peter Roth[11][12] before the show aired, led to her being signed on as a recurring star for the rest of show's first season. The success of the character, coupled with positive fan response, led to her being made a series regular from the second season onwards.[9][13][14] Rickards went on to portray the character in the spin-off shows to the series (collectively known as the Arrowverse) The Flash,[15] Legends of Tomorrow[16] and Supergirl,[17] as well as providing the voice for the character on animated show Vixen.[18] In 2013, she portrayed Felicity in web-based promotional tie-in series Blood Rush, sponsored by Bose, which also featured the characters of Roy Harper (Colton Haynes) and Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne), .[19] In 2016, Rickards portrayal of the character was placed at number 15 in a list of 50 Favourite Female Characters, in a poll of Hollywood professionals conducted by The Hollywood Reporter.[20]

Rickards at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con

In late 2012 she was cast in the Lifetime television movie Romeo Killer: The Chris Porco Story,[21] which was filmed in early 2013. A fictionalized account of the murder and attempted murder of Peter and Joan Porco, respectively, Rickards played the role of Lauren Philips, a fictionalized love-interest of the killer, Chris Porco.

In March 2014, Rickards was cast in the sequel to Cowgirls 'n Angels, entitled Cowgirls 'n Angels: Dakota's Summer, as Kristen Rose, the sister of the film's protagonist, Dakota, portrayed by Haley Ramm. The film premiered at the 2014 Dallas International Film Festival.[22]

2015 saw Rickards in a supporting role in the Oscar nominated film Brooklyn.[23] Rickards auditioned for the role with director John Crowley via a Skype call from her agents office. Her scenes were filmed in Montreal, and speaking about the filming experience she noted "Everyone was so artistic and so meticulous about being respectful of the era and the story, that I’m not surprised with the turnout of how beautiful and well crafted the film is".[24]

In early 2016, Rickards filmed the role of narrator Genevieve Creme for the Canadian web-series Paramormal Solutions, which was launced online in April of the same year.[25] In June, she appeared in an episode of the fifth season of IFC comedy Comedy Bang! Bang!.[26] 2016 also saw her cast in the movie Slumber, alongside Darby Stanchfield and Meaghan Rath. Filming took place in Los Angeles in May 2016.[27] The film is set to be released in 2018.[28] In the same year she was cast in Aisha Tyler's feature film directorial debut, Axis.[29] The film premiered at the 2017 Sarasota Film Festival and went on win the prize for Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking (Feature Film) at the 2017 Newport Beach Film Festival.[30][31]

Rickards co-starred, alongside Josh Dallas and Tom Cavanagh in the 2016 super-hero themed short film Sidekick, directed by Arrowverse alum Jeff Cassidy.[32] Cassidy was keen for Rickards to take the role of Emma/The Princess, but was initially concerned she looked too young for the role of "rundown, blue collar, life’s been beaten out of her, mother". However, following consultation with make-up artist Tina Teoli, he was convinced that they could age her appropriately for the role.[33]

In 2017 she starred alongside Jana Winternitz and Matthew Glave in the Michael Gallagher directed comedy film Funny Story.[34] filmed over fifteen days[35] in Los Angeles, and on location at Topanga Canyon and Big Sur.[36] The film premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in January 2018,[37] where it was runner-up in the festival's 'Beyond' programme.[38] Speaking about casting the role, director Gallagher stated: "We needed an actress who could speak volumes without saying a word. The kind of actor whose heart shines through their eyes. Emily Bett Rickards has these qualities."[39] Rickards performance as Kim received particular praise from festival critics[40] described as "impressively toe(ing) the line between blustery self-regard and the vulnerability it hides",[41] "exploring a broad spectrum of emotions" and being able to "hone in on the inherent conflict within Kimberly".[42] The film went on to win the Stolman Audience Award for Best American Indie at the 2018 Sonoma International Film Festival[43] and in the same year won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Vero Beach Wine and Film Festival,[44] Best Feature Film at the Santorini Film Festival[45] and the Grand Jury prize at the Barcelona Film Festival.[46] The film will premiere in the UK in October 2018, at the Southampton International Film Festival, where Rickards is nominated in the Leading Actress in A Feature category.[47]

In May 2018 Rickards announced she would be playing the lead role in a production of Zayd Dohrn's Reborning for Reality Curve Theatre Group, at the Annex Theatre in Vancouver.[48] The production premiered on June 20, 2018.[49] The play was well-received, with Katie Gartlan-Close, of Vancouver Presents, describing Rickards as doing "a pheonomenal job carrying this show" giving a "nuanced portrayal of Kelly"[50] and Jerry Wasserman of the Vancouver Sun commenting "Rickards gives us a painfully powerful Kelly" and that "her physical and emotional descent into madness is impressive".[51]

In September 2018 an audiobook of The Wicked Ones, a story written by Cassandra Clare and Robin Wasserman and originally published as part of the Ghosts of the Shadow Market anthology, a companion book to Clare's The Mortal Instruments series, was released by Simon and Schuster for digital download, narrated by Rickards.[52]

Filmography

Films/television series that have not yet been released Denotes films/television series that have not yet been released

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Bacon and Eggs Dite Short film
2012 Flicka: Country Pride Mary Malone Direct-to-video
2012 Random Acts of Romance Young wife
2014 Cowgirls 'n Angels: Dakota's Summer Kristen Rose
2015 Normal Doors Meg Short film
2015 Brooklyn Patty McGuire
2016 Sidekick Emma / The Princess Short film
2017 Axis Caitlin Voice
2018 Funny Story Kim
2018 Slumber dagger Stevens aka The Clinic (post-production)

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2012–present Arrow Felicity Smoak / Overwatch Recurring role (season 1)
Main role (season 2–present)
2013 Romeo Killer: The Chris Porco Story Lauren Phillps Television film
2014–present The Flash Felicity Smoak Recurring role, 8 episodes
2016–2017 Legends of Tomorrow Recurring role, 4 episodes
2016 Comedy Bang! Bang! Becky Simmons Episode: "Joe Jonas Wears a Maroon and Gold Letterman Jacket with White Sneakers"
2016 Superhero Fight Club 2.0 Felicity Smoak Short promo video
2016 Whose Line Is It Anyway? Herself Episode: "Emily Bett Rickards"
2017 Supergirl Felicity Smoak Episode: "Crisis on Earth X, Part 1"

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Soldiers of the Apocalypse Fourty Main role, 8 episodes
2013 Arrow: Blood Rush Felicity Smoak Main role, 6 episodes
2015 Very Mallory Herself (voice) Episode: "Emily Bett Rickards"
2015–2016 Vixen Felicity Smoak (voice) 2 episodes
2016 Paranormal Solutions Inc. Genevieve Kreme 8 episodes

Music video

Year Song title Artist
2009 "Never Gonna Be Alone" Nickelback

Stage

Year Title Role Venue Refs
2018 Reborning Kelly Annex Theatre, Vancouver [48]

Awards and nominations

Year Nominated work Award Category Result Refs
2014 Arrow Leo Awards Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series Nominated [53]
Teen Choice Awards Female Breakout Star Nominated [54]
2015 The Flash Leo Awards Best Guest Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series Nominated [55]
Arrow Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series Nominated
MTV Fandom Awards Ship of the Year (with Stephen Amell) Won [56]
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress - Fantasy/Sci-Fi Nominated [57]
Choice TV Liplock (with Stephen Amell) Nominated
2016 Arrow Leo Awards Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series Nominated [58]
MTV Fandom Awards Ship of the Year (with Stephen Amell) Won [59]
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress - Fantasy/Sci-Fi Nominated [60]
Choice TV Liplock (with Stephen Amell) Nominated
2017 Arrow Leo Awards Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series Nominated [61]
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress - Action Nominated [62]
2018 Arrow Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress - Action Nominated [63]
Choice TV Ship (with Stephen Amell) Nominated
Funny Story Southampton International Film Festival Leading Actress in a Feature Pending [47]

References

  1. 1 2 Emily Bett Rickards in TVSA
  2. ↑ Wilkerson, Richard C. "2017 IASD Conference Photos". Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  3. ↑ Wilkerson, Richard C. "2017 IASD Conference Photos". Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  4. ↑ Rickards, Emily (March 17, 2014). ""My mother is my most dedicated stalker." Tweet". Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Testimonials". Alida Vocal Studio. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  6. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (February 1, 2012). "Amanda Tapping Finds 'Random Acts of Romance'". "The Hollywood Reporter". Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  7. ↑ Tribute (May 1, 2012). "On the set of Flicka: Country Pride – On DVD today". ""Tribute". Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  8. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (August 10, 2012). "Shiri Appleby Poised To Recur On NBC's 'Chicago Fire' & More TV Castings". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  9. 1 2 Wieselman, Jarett (April 22, 2013). "10 Minutes with 'Arrow' Star Emily Bett Rickards". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Arrow:Stephen Amell and Greg Berlanti. Larry King Now". "Ora". May 14, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Peter Roth and Greg Berlanti in Conversation. Paley Fest Media Convention". "youtube". November 19, 2015. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Arrow at Paleyfest". "Deadline Hollywood". March 9, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  13. ↑ Prudom, Laura (February 12, 2013). "'Arrow' Promotes Emily Bett Rickards To Series Regular, New Promo Teases Oliver And Laurel Hook-Up (VIDEO)". "The Huffington Post". Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  14. ↑ Bahr, Lindsey (March 10, 2013). "Paleyfest 2013". "Entertainment Weekly". Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  15. ↑ Freeman, Molly (July 20, 2014). "'The Flash' pilot images: Episode 4 to feature Felicity Smoak". "Screenrant". Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  16. ↑ Wax, Alyse (March 27, 2016). "Look ahead to DC's Legends of Tomorrow final episodes in new trailer". "comingsoon.net". Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  17. ↑ Mitovich, Matt Webb (November 9, 2017). "Arrowverse 4-Way Crossover Synopsis Confirms [Spoiler] Will Be a Cool Ally". "TVLine". Archived from the original on January 28, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  18. ↑ Lam, Steve (June 28, 2015). "SDCC 2015: Comic-Con Schedule For Saturday, July 11, 2015". Bam! Smack! Pow!. Fansided. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  19. ↑ Graser, Marc (November 8, 2013). "Bose and 'Arrow:' Sound Company Helps the CW Launch Superhero Spinoff 'Blood Rush'". "Variety". Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  20. ↑ THR Staff (December 9, 2016). "Hollywood's 50 Favorite Female Characters". "The Hollywood Reporter". Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Lifetime To Do Chris Porco Movie With Matt Barr, Eric McCormack & Lolita Davidovich". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Country Artist Amber Hayes Returns To The Big Screen In Cowgirls 'N Angels 2: Dakota's Summer". "Aristo PR". March 24, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  23. ↑ Ge, Linda (March 14, 2014). "'Arrow' star Emily Bett Rickards joins Saoirse Ronon in 'Brooklyn'". "upandcoming.net". Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  24. ↑ Solomon, Emily (February 1, 2016). "'Arrow' Star Emily Bett Rickards Chats About Felicity Smoak Changing Her Life, Working with Stephen Amell and 'Brooklyn'". "Emtertainment Monthly". Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  25. ↑ Furminger, Sabrina (April 13, 2016). "Spooky sleuths get 'Paranormal'". "Vancuver Courier". Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  26. ↑ Wright, Megh (April 13, 2016). "'Comedy Bang! Bang!' Returns on June 3rd with The Lonely Island, Nathan Fielder, Kristen Schaal, and More". "Vulture". Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  27. ↑ Lang, Brent (April 25, 2016). "Darby Stanchfield, Emily Bett Rickards and Meaghan Rath cast in sci-fi thriller 'Slumbler". "Variety". Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  28. ↑ Charles, Douglas. "Emily Bett Rickards Of 'Arrow' And 'Flash' Talks About Her Upcoming Movie In A New Pictorial". "brobilble". Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  29. ↑ McNary, Dave (April 12, 2016). "Aisha Tyler to make feature directing debut on Kiickstarter-funded Axis". "Variety". Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  30. ↑ "Sarasota Film Festival Announces Opening and Closing Night Films". "Broadway World". March 10, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Annual Newport Beach Film Festival Announces Award Winners". "Newport Beach Film Festival. April 28, 2017. Archived from the original on July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  32. ↑ Romano, Nick (October 28, 2016). "Sidekick: Emily Bett Rickards and Tom Cavanagh team for superhero short film". "Entertainment Weekly". Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  33. ↑ Goldman, Eric (October 28, 2016). "Sidekick: Arrow and The Flash Stars Team for a Different Kind of Superhero Story". "IGN". Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  34. ↑ Rowney, Jo-Anne (June 11, 2017). "Arrow's Emily Bett Rickards on set wedding snap gives fans hope for future". "The Daily Mirror. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  35. ↑ Trapunski, Charles (January 23, 2018). "Interview: Funny Story's Emily Bett Rickards". "brieftake.com". Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  36. ↑ Weintraub, Steve (January 29, 2018). "Emily Bett Rickards Talks 'Funny Story', 'Arrow' Season 6 and Dancing with Joss Whedon". "Collider". Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  37. ↑ Slamdance (December 6, 2017). "SLAMDANCE 2018 ANNOUNCES, BEYOND FEATURES, AND SHORT FILM COMPETITIONS". "Slamdance Film Festival". Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  38. ↑ "Slamdance Film Festival Announces Award Winners". "Slamdance Film Festival. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018.
  39. ↑ McMahon, Vanessa (March 4, 2018). "Interview with Writer/Director Michael Gallagher for "Funny Story" (2018)". "Filmfestivals.com". Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  40. ↑ Solzman, Danielle (January 21, 2018). "Slamdance 2018: Funny Story REVIEW". "Cultured Vultures". Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  41. ↑ Saito, Stephen (February 1, 2018). "Slamdance '18 Review: Emily Bett Rickards & Matthew Glave Wring Painful Laughs from "Funny Story"". "The Moveable Feast". Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  42. ↑ Pierce, Kimberley (January 26, 2018). "Slamdance 2018: FUNNY STORY". "GeekGirlAuthority".
  43. ↑ Funny Story (2018) [@FunnyStoryMovie] (March 26, 2018). "WINNER! AUDIENCE AWARD at Sonoma International Film Festival! 🎬🎉🏆 @emilybett @matthewglave @janawinternitz #FunnyStoryMovie #sonomafilmfest" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  44. ↑ @FunnyStoryMovie (June 11, 2018). "🏆 WINNER! 🏆 "Funny Story" won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at Vero Beach Wine & Film Festival! 🎬🎉🥂Thank you so much!! More festivals coming soon! Get updates: www.funnystorymovie.com #funnystorymovie #vbwff" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  45. ↑ @FunnyStoryMovie (June 21, 2018). "🏆WINNER 🏆'Funny Story' wins BEST FEATURE FILM at the Santorini Film Festival! 🎬🎉❤️ Congrats @emilybett @matthewglave @janawinternitz and the entire cast & crew! 🥂 More updates and future screenings on our site: www.funnystorymovie.com #funnystorymovie" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  46. ↑ "2018 Winners". "Barcelona Film Festival". Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  47. 1 2 "Awards and Nominations". "Southampton International Film Festival". Archived from the original on September 17, 2018.
  48. 1 2 "Emily Bett Rickards Discusses Arrow". "Build Series". May 21, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  49. ↑ "Our picks this week: Global Soundscapes Fest, Reborning & Kill All Politicians". "Vancouver Presents". June 17, 2018.
  50. ↑ Gartlan-Close, Katie (June 22, 2018). "Theatre review: Reborning is an intense ride". "Vancouver Presents". Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  51. ↑ Wasserman, Jerry (June 27, 2018). "Theatre Review:Reborning". The Vancouver Sun.
  52. ↑ "The Wicked Ones Audiobook". "Simon and Schuster". Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  53. ↑ "2014 Winners By Name". Leo Awards. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  54. ↑ Nordyke, Kimberley (August 8, 2014). "Teen Choice Awards: The Complete Winners List". "The Hollywood Reporter". Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  55. ↑ "2015 LEO AWARDS NOMINEES & WINNERS" (PDF). Leo Awards. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  56. ↑ Bell, Crystal (July 13, 2015). "Olicity Is Our Ship Of The Year And We Can't Stop Smiling". MTV News. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  57. ↑ "2015 Teen Choice Award Winners – Full List". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. August 16, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  58. ↑ "2016 LEO AWARDS NOMINEES & WINNERS" (PDF). Leo Awards. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  59. ↑ "fandom awards 2016 winners". MTV News. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  60. ↑ Crist, Allison; Nordyke, Kimberly (July 31, 2016). "Teen Choice Awards: Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017.
  61. ↑ "Winners By Program 2017". Leo Awards. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  62. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca; Knapp, JD (August 13, 2017). "Teen Choice Awards 2017: 'Riverdale,' Fifth Harmony Shut Out Competition". "Variety". Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  63. ↑ "Teen Choice Awards: Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. August 12, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
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