Origins
Emilia Jones didn’t mean to become an actor. “I went to this improvisation class on a Saturday when I was 7 because my friend was going, and the teacher asked if he could put me forward for a film,” she says. “And beginner’s luck, I got it.” That role, in the Anne Hathaway–Jim Sturgess drama One Day, led to episodes of Doctor Who and Wolf Hall and eventually a starring role in the Netflix fantasy-horror series Locke & Key. As for the girl she tagged along with to that class? “We’re still friends!” Jones says with a laugh. “I actually went on to do a play with her in the West End, so we got to work together!”
Helping Hand
In this month’s CODA (in theaters and on Apple TV+ August 13), Jones, now 19, plays the hearing daughter of deaf parents (Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur). Jones spent eight months learning American Sign Language for the role. “I was constantly finger spelling and learning, not only because I wanted to learn my lines,” she says. “I wanted to be able to talk to my castmates.” When she found herself giving an autograph to a deaf fan, she realized the real-world impact of her newfound fluency. “We were signing together, and his face lit up. I think he felt so happy that someone had taken the time to learn his language. I’ve learned this skill for life.”
Tuning In
Ruby, Jones’s character in CODA, is championed by a choir teacher who recognizes her talent as a singer, but that pursuit creates a rift with her parents. Jones, who appeared in Shrek the Musical in the West End as a child, took voice lessons to build the confidence to sing live on set. She also continued a practice she employs to prepare for every project: “Music really helps me feel, so I make playlists for every character that I play,” she says. “For CODA, I have a playlist of songs that Ruby listens to and then maybe songs that Ruby would want to sing—a lot of Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding. The old-school vibe.”
Key Role
Jones is already busy filming the third season of Locke & Key, ahead of the show’s season two premiere this October. “There’s loads of twists and turns,” she says. “You’ll definitely be kept at the edge of your seat.” Next up is a thriller that’s still a bit top secret, although she does divulge it’s based on a viral short story. “It kind of touches on the gray area of consent, so it’s completely different from anything I’ve done before. I’m super-excited for the challenge.” As for other tests she’s eager to take, she says she’d love to play a real person but wouldn’t be opposed to a superhuman, either: “Hey, Marvel, call me!”
Next Up: Disney Stardom Was Just the Start for Scene-Stealer Dove Cameron
