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    Emily Hampshire

    Emily Hampshire

    Canada flagCanada
    Celebrity

    Actress

    Birthday

    August 29, 1981

    Birth Sign

    Virgo

    Birthplace

    Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Age

    45 years old

    About

    Emily Hampshire is a Canadian actress known for her sharp comedic timing and emotionally layered performances. She earned widespread acclaim playing Stevie Budd on the Emmy-winning series Schitt's Creek and Jennifer Goines on Syfy's 12 Monkeys. Her career spans independent film, genre television, and voice work, with standout roles in Snow Cake, Cosmopolis, and Chapelwaite. As of 2026, she stars in the Amazon Prime series The Rig and is expanding into writing, directing, and producing. Fans connect with her dry humor and willingness to play unconventional, complex characters.

    Early Life & Background

    Emily Hampshire was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. She started acting at a young age and moved to Toronto at 16 to pursue the profession professionally. Her television debut came in 1994 on an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark?, followed by a second appearance in 1996. These early roles gave her a foothold in the Canadian TV industry. She landed her first major film role in 1998 as Angelina in the romantic comedy Boy Meets Girl, which brought her early visibility. Before her breakthrough, she also appeared in the 2001 film On Their Knees and built up a resume of guest spots on Canadian television series.

    Career Growth

    Hampshire's career gained momentum in 2006 with a supporting role in Snow Cake, starring alongside Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver. That same year she began voicing Misery in the animated series Ruby Gloom, a role she played until 2008. In 2012 she appeared in David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis. Her major television breakthrough came in 2015 when she was cast as Jennifer Goines in Syfy's 12 Monkeys and as Stevie Budd in CBC's Schitt's Creek. The latter became a global phenomenon, earning her a Canadian Screen Award for Best Lead Performance in a Web Program or Series in 2017. She continued to work steadily through the 2020s, leading the Stephen King adaptation Chapelwaite in 2021 and joining the cast of The Rig in 2023. She has also moved into producing and directing.

    Career Timeline

    1994Television debut on Are You Afraid of the Dark?
    1998Film breakthrough with Boy Meets Girl
    2006Appeared in Snow Cake
    2006Voiced Misery in Ruby Gloom (2006–2008)
    2012Appeared in David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis
    2015Cast as Jennifer Goines in 12 Monkeys and Stevie Budd in Schitt's Creek
    2017Won Canadian Screen Award for Schitt's Creek
    2021Lead role in Chapelwaite
    2023Starred in The Rig

    Public Image & Style

    Hampshire is known for playing quirky, sharp, offbeat characters in both comedy and genre television. Her signature style combines dry humor with emotional vulnerability, making her a favorite among fans of Schitt's Creek and 12 Monkeys. She has built a reputation for taking on unconventional roles and bringing depth to characters that could easily be one-note. Her public persona, reflected in interviews, is self-deprecating and thoughtful, with a visible affection for the weird and wonderful. She does not have an official fandom name, but her fanbase is active on social media, often praising her versatility and authenticity.

    Fame & Fandom

    Emily Hampshire commands a steady presence in the global cultural landscape, her profile sustained by decades of versatile work across independent cinema and high-profile genre television. Her standing is quantified by the iFANN Global Fame Rankings. As of August 2026, she holds the position of the 71st most famous person in Canada, a placement that has remained stable through the previous cycle. This ranking reflects her enduring appeal following acclaimed turns as Stevie Budd on Schitt's Creek and Jennifer Goines on 12 Monkeys, roles that have cemented her reputation for bringing depth to unconventional characters. While her international reach is significant, her primary resonance remains rooted in her home country where her dry wit and emotional range continue to draw audiences. Despite her professional prominence and substantial social media following, there is no formal name documented for her fanbase; her supporters engage through standard industry channels without a unified collective identity or specific organized rituals. The absence of a dedicated fandom label does not diminish her influence, as her work continues to attract viewers who appreciate her commitment to complex, offbeat storytelling.

    Interesting Facts and Legends

    Emily Hampshire was nominated for the Genie Award three times, securing two nods for Best Lead Actress and one for Best Supporting Actress. Before her rise to mainstream recognition, she provided the voice for Alyson Malitski in the animated series Braceface. In September 2014, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States while maintaining strong ties to Canada. She has noted in interviews that a scene from Schitt's Creek helped her gain clarity regarding her own sexuality. Currently, she divides her residence between Los Angeles and Toronto. Recent developments in her career include her casting in Season 2 of the Crave Original series Heated Rivalry alongside Edvin Ryding, Robert Naylor, Sabrina Jalees, and drag queen Priyanka. This announcement in August 2026 marked a significant expansion of her portfolio into new dramatic territory within Canadian production.

    Family & Personal Life

    Hampshire was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She has not publicly shared details about her parents or siblings. She married Matthew Smith in 2006; the couple divorced in 2014. She has no children. She splits her residence between Los Angeles and Toronto.

    Notable Connections

    She worked with director David Cronenberg on Cosmopolis and co-starred with Adrien Brody in Chapelwaite. Her Schitt's Creek castmates, including Dan Levy and Catherine O'Hara, are closely associated with her career. She was married to Matthew Smith from 2006 to 2014.

    Relationships & Dating History

    As of 2026:Divorced

    Emily Hampshire married Matthew Smith in 2006. The couple separated in 2014, right before she auditioned for Schitt's Creek. She has said that a scene from the show helped her understand her own sexuality. As of 2026, she is not publicly known to be in a relationship and is reportedly single.

    • MarriedMatthew Smith2006 - 2014Married in 2006, divorced in 2014. The split occurred just before she auditioned for Schitt's Creek.

    Salary, Net Worth In 2026

    $4 Million

    iFANN Editorial Team estimate

    Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Emily Hampshire's net worth is estimated at $4 million as of 2026. Her financial standing derives primarily from her extensive acting career in film and television, with the period spent on Schitt's Creek and 12 Monkeys representing her most lucrative era. Additional revenue streams include her voice acting work and recent ventures into producing and directing. She maintains property holdings in both Los Angeles and Toronto, reflecting her dual residency status.

    Awards Won (2)

    Hampshire won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Lead Performance in a Web Program or Series for her work on Schitt's Creek. She also received the Birks Canadian Diamond Award at the 2012 Cannes International Festival. She was a three-time Genie Award nominee.

    2017 · Best Lead Performance in a Web Program or Series

    Schitt's Creek

    Won

    2012

    Won
    View all 3 awards, honours and achievements

    Known For

    Schitt's Creek

    2015 · Stevie Budd

    12 Monkeys

    2015 · Jennifer Goines

    Snow Cake

    2006 · Vivienne

    Boy Meets Girl

    1998 · Angelina

    Chapelwaite

    2021 · Rebecca Morgan

    Keywords

    Canadian actressSchitt's Creek12 MonkeysStevie BuddJennifer Goines

    Sources

    Quick Facts

    Profession
    Actress
    Born
    August 29, 1981
    Birthplace
    Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    Birth Sign
    Virgo

    Personal Details

    Full Name
    Emily Hampshire
    Spouse
    Matthew Smith (2006–2014)

    Filmography

    40

    Total

    20

    Film

    20

    TV

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How old is Emily Hampshire?
    Emily Hampshire was born on August 29, 1981, making her 44 years old as of 2026.
    What is Emily Hampshire best known for?
    She is best known for playing Stevie Budd on Schitt's Creek and Jennifer Goines on 12 Monkeys.
    Was Emily Hampshire married?
    Yes, she was married to Matthew Smith from 2006 to 2014. They divorced before she auditioned for Schitt's Creek.
    What is Emily Hampshire doing now?
    As of 2026, she stars in the Amazon Prime series The Rig and is working on writing, directing, and producing projects.
    What was Emily Hampshire's first big role?
    Her first major film role was Angelina in the 1998 romantic comedy Boy Meets Girl.

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