Emily Joanna Carey (born 30 April 2003) is an English actor. They began their career as a child performer on stage and in the BBC medical drama series Casualty (2014–2017, 2021). They went on to play several young versions of characters, such as Diana Prince in Wonder Woman (2017) and Lara Croft in Tomb Raider (2018). Carey is best known for playing young Alicent Hightower in the HBO fantasy series House of the Dragon (2022) and Harriet Manners in the Netflix teen drama series Geek Girl (2024).

Early life Emily Joanna Carey was born on 30 April 2003 in the London Borough of Barnet and grew up in East Sussex. They were raised by their mother, Sarah MacDonnell, a talent agent and former actor.

Carey was educated at the independent co-educational Claremont School until the age of 14. They have said that, while their acting career was one factor in the decision, they left school mainly for mental health reasons.

From early childhood, Carey was regularly backstage in theatres with family members who worked in the industry, including their grandmother, a former West End wardrobe supervisor. Carey has said that growing up around theatre gave them an early familiarity with performance and helped make acting feel like a natural path, and one that "I've wanted to do forever".

Career Carey began their professional career in 2012, making their West End debut aged nine in Shrek the Musical at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. The following year, they appeared as Marta von Trapp in The Sound of Music at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

In 2014, Carey joined the cast of the BBC medical drama Casualty as Grace Beauchamp, appearing regularly until 2017 and reprising the role in 2021. Their storylines included a long‑running brain injury recovery arc, for which they undertook research with The Children's Trust to support an accurate portrayal. During this period, they also appeared as Mary Conan Doyle in the ITV series Houdini & Doyle. In 2016, the The Huffington Post named Carey as one of the year's top child actors.

Carey made their feature film debut as the young Diana Prince in the DC Universe film Wonder Woman (2017), studying Gal Gadot's speech patterns to match the character's voice. The film received a positive critical response and was a commercial success. They subsequently portrayed a young Lara Croft in Tomb Raider (2018).

Carey secured their first leading television role in the BBC and Netflix teen drama Get Even (2020), playing schoolgirl Mika Cavanaugh, whose private photos are shared without her consent, leading to bullying and social isolation. That year, they also appeared in the title role of the film Anastasia: Once Upon a Time (2020). In 2021, Carey transitioned into voice work in feature animation, voicing Anne Frank in Ari Folman's Where Is Anne Frank (2021), and Mila in Monster Family 2 (2021).

Carey had a career breakthrough with their role as young Alicent Hightower in the HBO Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon (2022), adapted from George R. R. Martin's historical fantasy book Fire & Blood. Carey's performance received praise from critics. Megan O'Keefe of Decider described it as “carefully composed”, while Kaiya Shunyata of Roger Ebert called Carey's performance “fantastic”.

Carey next starred as Harriet Manners in the Netflix teen drama Geek Girl (2024), based on Holly Smale's novel of the same name. Carey described the role as personally significant, saying it was both truthful and “healing to their inner child” in light of their own experiences as an autistic person. The series and Carey's performance were praised. Lucy Mangan in The Guardian felt that they delivered a complete performance, while Hollywood Repoter's Daniel Fienburg wrote that Carey shined with a satisfying and believable portrayal.

Carey will next return as Harriet Manners in the second series of Geek Girl. Carey is also due to appear in the films Becoming Capa and Oddly Flowers, and as Victoria Chase in the television adaptation of the video game Life Is Strange.

Personal life Carey is autistic. They are queer and use they/them pronouns. They helped The Children's Trust launch the #MyBrave campaign.

Carey was in a relationship with musician Kellimarie Willis, who performs in the band RLY. In 2024, Carey was in a relationship with English actress Jessica Revell. However, in June 2026, they revealed in an interview that they are single.

Filmography Film

Year Title Role 2017 Wonder Woman Young Diana Prince 2018 Tomb Raider Young Lara Croft 2020 Anastasia: Once Upon a Time Anastasia 2021 Where Is Anne Frank Anne Frank (voice) Monster Family 2 Mila Starr (voice) 2022 The Lost Girls Teen Wendy Darling 2023The Canterville Ghost Virginia Otis (voice) Breaking Point Abbie2025The Witcher: Sirens of the DeepSh'eenaz (voice)MisperElle Pritchard The Birth of a Mall Goth May A Witness Miss Witmer TBA Oddly Flowers Audrey Flowers TBA Becoming Capa TBA TBAStrayJennyTBACaminoEllie

Television Year Title Role Notes 2014–2017, 2021 Casualty Grace Beauchamp Recurring role 2016 Houdini & Doyle Mary Conan Doyle 6 episodes 2019 Turn Up Charlie Bea 1 episode 2020 Get Even Mika Cavanaugh Main role 2022House of the Dragon Young Alicent Hightower Main role; 5 episodes 2024 Platform 7 Ella Geek Girl Harriet Manners Main role2026Dragon StrikerTBATBA Lady Charon Natalie Life Is Strange Victoria Chase Main role

Music videos Year Title Artist 2014 Baby, It's Cold Outside Idina Menzel and Michael Bublé 2022 Teenage Drama Michael Aldag 2024 Bitch Get Out of My Car Say Now

Stage Year Title Role Notes 2012–13 Shrek The Musical Young Shrek, Young Fiona, Grumpy Theatre Royal, Drury Lane 2013 The Sound of Music Marta Von Trapp Regent's Park Open Air Theatre2025 Before This New Year Haley The Duke on 42nd Street

Video games Year Title Role 2022 Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Young Eunie2025 Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Alma Beoulve

Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.2022Pena de PrataBest Ensemble in a Drama SeriesHouse of the Dragon

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