Emily Mortimer, born on December 1, 1971 in London, England, is the daughter of acclaimed English dramatist and radical lawyer Sir John Mortimer. She grew up in a middle-class household with sister Rosie. As a child, she was immersed in the world of theatre and film thru her father. Emily attended St. Paul's Girls School and later on in Oxford to study English and Russian Literature.

Though initially she chose to be a writer and had a job writing articles for the Daily Telegraph, she soon became involved with the Oxford University Dramatic Society and starred in several school productions. She made good use of her education and spent time in Moscow, Russia to study acting at the Moscow Arts Theater.

Emily started her career on television but has become more known for her roles in film, both in England and in Hollywood. She is remembered as Hugh Grant's perfect girl in Notting Hill, the deadly hit woman in Formula 51 opposite Samuel L. Jackson, and the caring sister-in-law of Ryan Gosling Lars and the Real Girl. But her performance in Lovely & Amazing, which she considers her favorite project, is by far her most brilliant, garnering her several awards.

Emily is married to actor Alessandro Nivola since January 2003 and they have one son, Samuel (b. September 26, 2003).