Nathalie Emmanuel’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

Nathalie Emmanuel feels like an underrated Hollywood actress despite having some truly fantastic movies and TV shows throughout her career. She first began her acting career in theater as a young girl in the late 90s. It wasn’t until 2006 that Nathalie Emmanuel had her first on-screen role, a major part in the British soap opera Hollyoaks. Working mostly in television roles for the first leg of her career, Nathalie Emmanuel had her big Hollywood breakthrough as Missandei in Game of Thrones, one of the biggest shows of all time.

Since that time, Nathalie Emmanuel has appeared in several big screen franchises, including The Maze Runner, Fast & Furious, and the Army of the Dead universe on Netflix. Growing in popularity as a lead actress, Nathalie Emmanuel had a busy 2024, with roles in Megalopolis, Arthur the King, and John Woo’s own remake of The Killer.

10

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2018)

Nathalie Emmanuel as Harriet

After The Maze Runner found success within the YA dystopian movie boom of the time, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials attempted to expand the franchise beyond the mysterious maze that hung over the first film like a specter. It’s a hard shift from the more mystery-focused first film, as it relied on more spectacle and high-octane action scenes than before. It’s an immensely fun film, even if it doesn’t quite hit the same as the first one.

Nathalie Emmanuel joined The Maze Runner franchise in Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, where she played Harriet, one of the leaders of Group B, the all-girl group that was also put in a trial created by WICKED. Still relatively new to film at the time, Nathalie Emmanuel was an excellent addition to an already strong cast, feeling at home within the desolate apocalyptic setting of Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials.

9

Holly Slept Over (2020)

Nathalie Emmanuel as Holly

Holly Slept Over tells the story of a married couple who contemplate having sexual relations when the wife’s friend from college suddenly reappears in her life, staying over at their house. Often funny, Holly Slept Over is actually an insightful look into love, marriage, and relationships in general, exploring how they grow and evolve over time. It isn’t anything groundbreaking, but it’s an entertaining and sometimes poignant movie.

She is at the center of the entire narrative and she does her part well.

Nathalie Emmanuel plays the titular character in the movie, and she does a fantastic job as a character placed in the middle of a married couple that is going through some troubles in their relationship. Given that Holly Slept Over is a dramedy, Nathalie Emmanuel does an admirable job at being both funny and bringing some genuine emotion to the film at times, striking a great balance with her performance. She is at the center of the entire narrative and she does her part well.

8

The Fate Of The Furious (2017)

Nathalie Emmanuel as Ramsey

The Fate of the Furious had the monumental job of continuing the franchise without Paul Walker, and living up to the record-breaking box office of its predecessor. While it might not be as great as Furious 7 or Fast Five, The Fate of the Furious is still an entertaining entry into the franchise, as the absurdity of the situations the characters find themselves in continues to escalate. It’s a solid movie for what it’s worth, but not the best overall.

Nathalie Emmanuel continued her role from Furious 7, playing the computer hacker Ramsey. She is given a bit more to do in The Fate of the Furious as she becomes a staple of the crew. Not only is she a phenomenal actress, but her performance as Ramsey in her second outing feels more confident, which continued to carry her through the other films in the franchise.

7

The Killer (2024)

Nathalie Emmanuel as Zee

Directed by John Woo, The Killer was the 2024 American remake of Woo’s 1989 Hong Kong film of the same name. While it doesn’t reach the same heights that Woo set in 1989, The Killer is a solid modern update that contains all the thrilling action and violence that he has perfected throughout his legendary career. It’s worth a watch just to see an action master doing something he is so great at doing.

Zee is a professional hit woman living in Paris who refuses to kill on an assignment, sending her on a journey through a criminal conspiracy.

Nathalie Emmanuel plays Zee in The Killer, the Chow Yun-fat equivalent of the original film. Zee is a professional hit woman living in Paris who refuses to kill on an assignment, sending her on a journey through a criminal conspiracy. Nathalie Emmanuel’s performance is impressive in The Killer, with a full commitment to the physicality that the role demands, something that is relatively new to her career.

6

Arthur The King (2024)

Nathalie Emmanuel as Olivia

Telling the story of a stray dog named Arthur who winds up joining an adventure team as they travel a grueling 435-mile race through another country, Arthur the King is an inspirational, heartstring-tugging movie about the connection between man and dog and the resilience of the human spirit. Anyone who loves touching stories involving dogs should like Arthur the King, which can be moving and profound often throughout. It helps that Arthur is so adorable.

Nathalie Emmanuel had a strong 2024 that started with Arthur the King, where she played Olivia, a climber whose father did the same thing. She joins Mark Wahlberg’s Michael Light’s adventure racing team that is attempting to compete in a grueling endurance race in the Dominican Republic. Nathalie Emmanuel is great in the film, channeling the gritty spirit of someone who wants to defy the odds.

5

Army Of Thieves (2021)

Nathalie Emmanuel as Gwendoline Starr

Army of Thieves is a prequel to Army of the Dead, Zack Snyder’s return to the zombie genre for Netflix. The film focuses on a group of thieves that attempt to break into three banks that have three nearly impossible safes to crack. Though it takes place simultaneously with the initial zombie breakout in the opening credits of Army of the Dead, the movie doesn’t actually feature any zombies in the plot, making it a unique entry into the franchise.

Nathalie Emmanuel plays Gwendoline Starr in the film, a skilled jewel thief who meets Matthias Schweighöfer’s Sebastian Schlencht-Wöhnert after commenting on his YouTube video about safecracking. She is very good at what she does, and Nathalie Emmanuel plays her mysterious for a significant portion of the movie, expertly keeping her at an emotional arms-length away from the other characters in the group.

4

Megalopolis (2024)

Nathalie Emmanuel as Julia Cicero

Confounding, ambitious, absurd, a work of art. Francis Ford Coppola’s passion project Megalopolis is a divisive film that requires getting on the same wavelength as the legendary director. It’s a confusing experience, but one that lingers due to the sheer spectacle on screen, both in production design and performances by an incredible cast of actors. It might not be for everyone, but those who engage with it at its level could find something to truly love.

Playing Julia Cicero, Megalopolis is one of the most interesting performances of Nathalie Emmanuel’s career. Julia Cicero is the love interest of Adam Driver’s Cesar Catilina and the daughter of Giancarlo Esposito’s Franklyn Cicero. Caught in the middle of a political struggle between the two men, Nathalie Emmanuel channels one of her best performances, which feels at odds against Driver’s and even Esposito’s, something that is common of every actor in Megalopolis.

3

The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance (2019)

Nathalie Emmanuel as Deet

Tasked with following up The Dark Crystal, a beloved ’80s fantasy film, Netflix’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is fantastic, expanding the franchise into a series, and taking it to even greater heights. Leaning into the iconic puppetry from the original, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is utterly gorgeous, immersing the viewer in the world of Thra. It’s exciting, heart-wrenching, and ultimately profound as it focuses on the humanity at the center of the fantasy epic.

Nathalie Emmanuel voices Deet in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, one of three young Gelflings who embark on a quest to save their world. Deet is an optimist who never loses hope along their journey, often connecting with the surrounding nature. Despite being a gentle spirit, she is fiercely protective of her friends and family, and Nathalie Emmanuel shines at bringing Deet’s personality to life through impeccable voice work.

2

Furious 7 (2015)

Nathalie Emmanuel as Ramsey

One of the best movies in the franchise, Furious 7 was a fantastic action flick and the final film of Paul Walker’s career. Full of absurd stunts and direction by James Wan, Furious 7 felt like the pinnacle of the Fast & Furious franchise, ending with an emotional send-off for Paul Walker’s Brian O’Connor. Equal parts thrilling and cathartic, Furious 7 is enough to reduce anyone to a pile of tears by the time the credits roll.

Furious 7 is the highest-grossing film in the franchise and the 12th highest-grossing movie ever made.

Furious 7 was the first film in the franchise that Nathalie Emmanuel appeared in. She plays Ramsey, a talented computer hacker and creator of a program capable of tracking a specific person through digital services. She is essential to the success of the group and continues to be a prominent character in each subsequent film in the series, with Nathalie Emmanuel giving a great performance in each of them.

1

Game Of Thrones (2013-2019)

Nathalie Emmanuel as Missandei

A monumental landmark, Game of Thrones changed television forever and, despite stumbling towards the end of the series, remains one of HBO’s best shows of all time. Focusing on the power struggle between various families to sit on the Iron Throne, Game of Thrones is brutal, complex, and features some of the most enduring characters in television history. It’s an incredible series that deserves all of its flowers in the end.

Nathalie Emmanuel first appeared in Game of Thrones in the third season, playing Missandei in a recurring role. By season six, she moved to a main role as Missandei became an incredibly important character as the show progressed. Game of Thrones was Nathalie Emmanuel’s breakthrough role, and she nails every aspect of her character, with her romance with Grey Worm being a particular highlight.