Emma Roberts

Even though she’s the niece of one of Hollywood’s brightest stars, Emma Roberts has a charm and following all her one. With a television series, a leading role in a film, and an album under her belt, she counts a lot of credits to her sixteen year old name.

Emma Rose Roberts was born February 10, 1991 in Rhinebeck, New York. Her father is actor Eric Roberts and her aunts are Julia Roberts and Lisa Roberts Gillan, placing her squarely into one of the most well known family names in Hollywood. Her mother is Eric’s former girlfriend, Kelly Cunningham.

Although Roberts’ love for acting was incited early, her mother was cautious about making her daughter into a child star. Hoping she’d have a more normal childhood, she eventually caved to Roberts’ insistence, allowing her a few small roles.

To that end, her onscreen debut came in 2001 with the Sundance short, BigLove. She appeared beside Sam Rockwell and Mary McCormack. In the same year, she had her breakout performance in Blow opposite Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz. She followed with a leading part in Grand Champion with a then undiscovered Joey Lauren Adams.

Taking a brief hiatus, Roberts’ next major milestone was a leading role in the Nickelodeon series Unfabulous. Winning the role along with fellow teen stars Malese Jow, Emma Degerstedt, Dustin Ingram, and Mary Lou, Roberts earned her largest following to date.

While Unfabulous was gaining popularity, Roberts capitalized with film roles. Auditioning for and winning a significant role in Aquamarine, she led the fantasy comedy opposite actress and singer Joanna Levesque, known popularly as JoJo, and Sara Paxton.

Roberts is perhaps best known, however, for her recent film reprisal of Nancy Drew. With the help of actress Rachael Leigh Cook, Nancy Drew was far from a critical success, but it played well with its intended audience.

Roberts has earned several Teen Choice Award and Young Artist Award nominations. In 2007, she took home a Young Artist Award for Aquamarine.

Pursuing her musical career, Roberts followed in the footsteps of actress-turned-singer Hilary Duff and even the recently troubled Lindsay Lohan. Her debut album, Unfabulous and More: Emma Roberts hit the shelves September 27, 2005. Unfortunately, it did so to mediocre reviews. It never peaked higher than #46 on the Billboard charts.

Crossing over into even more diverse ventures, Roberts also became the spokeswoman for Dooney & Bourke. The high end designer bags even released a bag under her namesake, which she designed.

Roberts is currently in production for the films Wild Child and Hotel for Dogs.

Roberts has always been forthright about a somewhat distant relationship with her biological father, stating publicly she is closer to her stepfather, Kelly Nickels. She has one half-sister, Grace Nickels.