Who Is Emilia Jones? Her Early Life, CODA Breakthrough, Personal Life and Career

Emilia Jones is a British actress and singer who began working professionally as a child and gradually moved from theatre and television roles into major film and streaming productions. Born in London on February 23, 2002, she is 24 years old as of October 3, 2026. She became internationally known for playing Ruby Rossi in CODA, the 2021 Apple film that won Best Picture at the 2022 Academy Awards. Her career continued with Netflix's Locke & Key, films such as Fairyland, Cat Person and Winner, and the HBO drama Task, which earned her a 2026 BAFTA Television Award nomination for Supporting Actress. In 2026, she appeared in Tony as Nancy and Charlie Harper as Harper, while also building an increasingly busy slate that includes Netflix's The 99'ers, Bad Bridgets and The Retrievals.

Summary

• Full name: Emilia Jones
• Date of birth: February 23, 2002
• Current age: 24
• Birthplace: London, England
• Nationality: British
• Profession: Actress and singer
• Years active: 2010–present
• Parents: Aled Jones and Claire Fossett
• Sibling: Younger brother named Lucas
• Education: Kew House School; attended Saturday classes at the Sylvia Young Theatre School and took improvisation classes as a child
• Major breakthrough: Ruby Rossi in CODA (2021)
• Best-known TV role: Kinsey Locke in Locke & Key
• Major recent role: Maeve Prendergrast in HBO's Task
• Major awards: BAFTA Cymru Award for Actress for CODA; Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performer for CODA
• Major nominations: BAFTA Film Award for Leading Actress for CODA and BAFTA Television Award for Supporting Actress for Task
• Current 2026 projects: The 99'ers, Bad Bridgets and The Retrievals, with Tony and Charlie Harper already released in 2026.

Early Life and Childhood

Emilia Jones was born in London on February 23, 2002. She grew up in Barnes in southwest London in a family with strong connections to entertainment. Her father is Welsh singer and television presenter Aled Jones, while her mother, Claire Fossett, comes from a circus family and worked as a trapeze artist. Emilia also has a younger brother named Lucas.

Growing up around performers helped make the entertainment industry feel normal to her. Jones has explained that her parents were supportive and relatively relaxed about her career. She has described her childhood as full of fun, love and excitement and said her parents' backgrounds helped her feel that working in the arts was a realistic option.

Her acting career began remarkably early. Jones was about eight when she became involved in an improvisation class in Barnes. The agent who ran the class later put her forward for One Day, the 2011 romantic drama starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. That opportunity helped open the door to professional acting.

Jones also developed her skills through theatre. She appeared as Young Fiona in the original West End production of Shrek the Musical, later performed as Flora in The Turn of the Screw at the Almeida Theatre and appeared in Far Away at the Young Vic. These early stage experiences gave her an unusually strong performance background before she became a major screen actress.

Education

Jones attended Kew House School in West London before eventually concentrating more heavily on acting. Sources also document her attendance at Saturday classes at the Sylvia Young Theatre School from around the age of eight.

Interestingly, Jones has said that she never had formal acting lessons in the traditional sense. Instead, she learned through improvisation, performance work, theatre and working on professional sets from a very young age.

Her career education became particularly intensive while preparing for CODA. She spent about nine months learning American Sign Language and also trained vocally because the singing performances in the film were recorded live. She additionally learned how to work on a fishing boat so that her performance as Ruby would feel convincing.

Beginning of Career

Jones' first screen work arrived while she was still a child. Her early credits included One Day and a small role in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in 2011. She also worked in children's and family television, including House of Anubis.

She later appeared as Merry Gejelh in the Doctor Who episode "The Rings of Akhaten" in 2013. Around the same period, she played Alice Ward in the Channel 4 drama Utopia. Those roles were important because they showed that she could work across very different types of material, from science fiction and fantasy to darker drama.

Her teenage film work included What We Did on Our Holiday, Youth, High-Rise, Brimstone, Ghostland, Two for Joy and Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans. Rather than becoming known from one immediate blockbuster, Jones built her experience through a mixture of independent films, major productions, television and theatre.

Breakthrough with CODA

The project that changed Emilia Jones' career was CODA, written and directed by Siân Heder.

Jones played Ruby Rossi, the only hearing member of a deaf family who wants to pursue singing while also feeling responsible for helping her family. The role required Jones to combine acting, singing and American Sign Language. She was only 17 when she filmed the movie.

Preparation for the role was intense. Jones spent nine months learning ASL with a Deaf coach, worked on her American accent, trained her singing voice and learned enough about commercial fishing to convincingly take part in the family's fishing business scenes.

She also worked closely with Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur and Daniel Durant, who played Ruby's deaf family members. Jones has talked about how close the cast became during production, including spending time together away from filming. She said working with her Deaf co-stars changed the way she understood communication and performance.

CODA premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and became one of the festival's biggest successes. It won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic, the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast.

Apple acquired the film and released it in August 2021. The movie then reached the 2022 Academy Awards, where CODA won Best Picture. Jones herself was not an Oscar nominee, but the film's success made her an internationally recognized young actress.

Her performance also brought major individual recognition. She received a BAFTA Film Award nomination for Leading Actress and later won the BAFTA Cymru Actress award for CODA.

The success of CODA became the defining turning point of her early career.

Major Career

After CODA, Jones did not remain tied to one kind of character. Instead, she moved into very different genres.

Her three-season run as Kinsey Locke in Netflix's Locke & Key had already helped establish her as a television lead. The fantasy drama ran from 2020 to 2022, with Jones appearing in all 28 episodes as one of the Locke siblings.

Her post-CODA film choices showed a willingness to move away from the warm family drama that made her famous. She appeared in Cat Person in 2023, playing Margot, and Fairyland, where she played Alysia Abbott. Fairyland was based on Alysia Abbott's memoir and followed a father and daughter navigating a changing family life in 1970s San Francisco.

In 2024, Jones portrayed Reality Winner in Winner, a drama based on the real-life former U.S. intelligence contractor. The film premiered at Sundance in January 2024 and was released theatrically in September that year.

In 2025, Jones expanded into large-scale genre filmmaking with Edgar Wright's The Running Man. She played Amelia Williams opposite Glen Powell, William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera and Josh Brolin. Paramount identifies the movie as a 2025 action, adventure and science-fiction film, released in theatres on November 14, 2025 and later made available for streaming.

The same year brought one of her most important television roles after CODA: Maeve Prendergrast in HBO's Task. The series, created by Brad Ingelsby, follows an FBI-led investigation into a series of robberies in the Philadelphia area. Jones played Maeve, a young woman heavily involved in caring for her relatives while dealing with an increasingly difficult family situation.

Her work in Task earned her a 2026 BAFTA Television Award nomination for Supporting Actress, her first BAFTA television performance nomination.

Major Movies and TV Shows

Personal Life

Family

Family has been a visible part of Jones' public biography because both of her parents come from entertainment backgrounds.

Her father, Aled Jones, is a Welsh singer and television presenter who became well known in Britain from a young age and later developed a television career. Her mother, Claire Fossett, comes from a circus family and has worked as a trapeze artist. Jones grew up with her younger brother Lucas in Barnes, London.

Her parents have also supported her professionally. During her career, Jones has spoken about her mother's involvement in auditions, including helping her record self-tapes. Her mother even helped as her off-camera acting partner when Jones auditioned for Task.

Relationships

Emilia Jones tends to keep her romantic life private. As of October 3, 2026, I did not find a reliable recent source confirming a husband, marriage or publicly confirmed current partner. Recent interviews and profiles have focused mainly on her acting work, including Task, Tony, Charlie Harper, Bad Bridgets and The Retrievals.

Her film Charlie Harper is a relationship drama, but the story of the characters should not be confused with Jones' real personal life. The film follows Harper and Charlie as their goals and lives begin moving in different directions.

Personality and Professional Relationships

Jones' interviews often show someone who places a lot of value on preparation and collaboration. During CODA, she developed a close relationship with Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur and Daniel Durant and later described the experience as a major learning period.

On Task, she deliberately spent time with the younger actors before filming to help create a believable family relationship on screen. She also worked with dialect coaches for months to master the Delaware County, Pennsylvania accent required by the role.

Philanthropy, Charity and Causes

There is not a large publicly documented record of major charitable donations or a long-running personal foundation associated with Emilia Jones.

One area that has clearly featured in her public work is disability representation and Deaf culture. While promoting CODA, Jones repeatedly discussed the importance of authentic representation and the significance of casting Deaf performers as Deaf characters. She also continued using and practicing American Sign Language after production.

Her work on CODA helped place conversations about Deaf representation in mainstream entertainment, although that broader impact belongs to the film's whole creative team and cast rather than to Jones alone. Gallaudet University and Apple TV+ also highlighted the film as an important moment for Deaf representation in media.

No large personal charity campaign or major private donation should be attributed to Jones without stronger documentation.

Awards and Nominations

Emilia Jones' awards history is closely tied to CODA, while Task gave her a new wave of recognition several years later.

The CODA cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in 2022. Jones was listed among the ensemble members receiving that recognition.

At the BAFTA Film Awards, Jones was nominated for Leading Actress for CODA, while Joanna Scanlan won the category.

Jones later won the Actress award at the 2022 BAFTA Cymru Awards for CODA.

Her 2026 BAFTA Television nomination came for Task, where she was nominated in the Supporting Actress category.

Latest Career Developments

As of October 3, 2026, Emilia Jones is in an active period of her career, with several projects either already released or moving toward release.

One of her newest completed films is Tony, an A24 drama directed by Matt Johnson. Jones plays Nancy opposite Dominic Sessa, who portrays a young Anthony Bourdain. A24 lists Tony as a 2026 release, while the BBFC records a UK release date of August 14, 2026.

Jones also stars in Charlie Harper as Harper, opposite Nick Robinson. The film was released theatrically in the United States on September 25, 2026. It follows two young lovers whose relationship changes as Harper pursues her career and Charlie struggles with his own direction.

Meanwhile, The 99'ers has moved into post-production. Jones plays U.S. women's national team midfielder Julie Foudy in the Netflix film about the 1999 Women's World Cup team. Netflix confirmed her casting in March 2026, and current production reports indicate the film completed principal photography in 2026. An exact Netflix release date has not been publicly confirmed, although 2027 has been reported as the planned release year.

Bad Bridgets is another major project. Jones is starring alongside Alison Oliver in the Rich Peppiatt-directed Netflix film, which is inspired by historical research into Irish women who emigrated to America in the 19th century. Netflix said production would begin in Northern Ireland and Ireland in summer 2026, but the streamer had not announced a release date in its latest official update.

The newest project announced in 2026 is The Retrievals, a Netflix drama from Molly Smith Metzler based on the New York Times and Serial Productions podcast. Jones plays Gabby Clemente, one of the fictionalized patients at the center of the story, alongside Jessica Chastain and Amy Ryan. Netflix's September 2026 announcement said there was still no release date.

This means Jones' career currently stretches across prestige television, independent drama, large commercial films, period stories, romance and real-life-inspired projects.

Current Projects

Net Worth

Several entertainment websites estimate Emilia Jones' net worth at around $2 million. Celebrity Net Worth currently lists an estimate of $2 million and attributes her earnings to her acting career, including CODA, Locke & Key, Cat Person and other film and television work.

However, this figure is not an officially verified personal financial statement. There is no reliable public document confirming Jones' exact assets, investments, salary from individual productions or total income. For that reason, the $2 million figure should be treated as a third-party estimate rather than a confirmed fact.

Career Highlights

Why Emilia Jones Stands Out

One of the clearest features of Emilia Jones' career is how early she started and how much variety she has already built into it.

She did not become famous simply by playing versions of the same character. Her work has moved between family dramas, fantasy, horror, historical stories, romance, crime and action. That variety can be seen in the difference between Kinsey Locke in Locke & Key, Ruby Rossi in CODA, Reality Winner in Winner, Maeve in Task and Amelia Williams in The Running Man.

Her preparation for CODA is also a major part of her career story. She learned ASL for nine months, worked on singing and adopted technical skills related to the fishing scenes. The experience also influenced how she later discussed communication and representation.

Her recent choices show another change. With Task, The Running Man, Tony, Charlie Harper, The 99'ers, Bad Bridgets and The Retrievals, she is taking on roles that range from crime and action to biographical drama, romance and historical stories.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Emilia Jones?

Emilia Jones is 24 years old as of October 3, 2026. She was born on February 23, 2002.

Where was Emilia Jones born?

She was born in London, England. She grew up in Barnes in southwest London.

What is Emilia Jones best known for?

She is best known internationally for playing Ruby Rossi in CODA and Kinsey Locke in Locke & Key. More recently, she gained further recognition for playing Maeve Prendergrast in HBO's Task.

Is Emilia Jones married?

There is no reliable public confirmation, as of October 3, 2026, that Emilia Jones is married.

Does Emilia Jones have children?

No children have been reliably and publicly confirmed in the reputable sources reviewed for this biography.

Who are Emilia Jones' parents?

Her father is Welsh singer and presenter Aled Jones, and her mother is former circus performer Claire Fossett.

Does Emilia Jones have a brother or sister?

Yes. She has a younger brother named Lucas.

What movies has Emilia Jones appeared in?

Her film credits include One Day, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, What We Did on Our Holiday, Youth, High-Rise, Brimstone, Ghostland, Two for Joy, Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans, CODA, Cat Person, Fairyland, Winner, The Running Man, Tony and Charlie Harper.

What TV shows has Emilia Jones appeared in?

Her television work includes House of Anubis, Doctor Who, Utopia, Residue, Wolf Hall, Locke & Key and Task.

What awards has Emilia Jones won?

Her major wins include the 2021 Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performer for CODA, the 2022 BAFTA Cymru Actress award for CODA, and a Screen Actors Guild ensemble award as part of the CODA cast.

Was Emilia Jones nominated for a BAFTA?

Yes. She received a 2022 BAFTA Film Award nomination for Leading Actress for CODA. She was also nominated for Supporting Actress at the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards for Task.

What is Emilia Jones working on now?

As of October 2026, her current slate includes Netflix's The 99'ers, Bad Bridgets and The Retrievals. Tony and Charlie Harper are already released in 2026.

What is Emilia Jones' net worth?

Celebrity Net Worth currently estimates her net worth at about $2 million, although this is a third-party estimate and not an officially confirmed figure.

References

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — 2022 Academy Awards and CODA Best Picture. Oscars — 94th Academy Awards
• BAFTA — Emilia Jones' CODA Leading Actress nomination. BAFTA Awards Database
• BAFTA — 2022 BAFTA Cymru winners, including Emilia Jones. BAFTA Cymru 2022 Winners
• BAFTA — 2026 Television Supporting Actress nominations. BAFTA Television Supporting Actress
• Screen Actors Guild Awards — 2022 winners, including the CODA cast. SAG Awards — 28th Annual Awards
• Netflix Tudum — The 99'ers. Netflix Tudum — The 99'ers
• Netflix Tudum — Bad Bridgets. Netflix Tudum — Bad Bridgets
• Netflix Tudum — The Retrievals. Netflix Tudum — The Retrievals
• A24 — Tony. A24 — Tony
• Paramount Movies — The Running Man. Paramount Movies — The Running Man
• Row K — Charlie Harper. Row K — Charlie Harper
• The Independent — Emilia Jones interview on CODA, sign language and her early career. The Independent — Emilia Jones interview
• Los Angeles Times — Emilia Jones and Task. Los Angeles Times — Emilia Jones in Task
• ELLE — Emilia Jones' 2026 interview and current projects. ELLE — Emilia Jones
• Celebrity Net Worth — third-party net-worth estimate. Celebrity Net Worth — Emilia Jones