Biography
Fashion model Emily Ratajkowksi became a media sensation thanks to her appearance in the provocative video for Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" before forging a successful acting career with roles in "Gone Girl" (2014), "Entourage" (2015) and "We Are Your Friends" (2015). Born in Westminster, London in 1991 to a professor mother and painter father, Ratajkowski moved to San Diego with her American parents aged five where she landed her first acting role in a theatre school production of "The Little Match Girl." After being told that modelling work could serve as a gateway into a film career, Ratajkowski signed a deal with Ford Models at the age of 14 and following a brief stint at the University of Los Angeles, became one of the agency's most in-demand new talents, working on campaigns for Kohl's, Forever 21 and Nordstrom, and shooting several editorials with widely revered photographer Tony Duran. Having first appeared on screen in the little-watched high-school romantic comedy short "Andrew's Alteration" and redemption tale "A Year and a Day" (2005), Ratajkowski achieved her first notable acting credit as Gibby's girlfriend Tasha in the tween hit series "iCarly" (Nickelodeon, 2007-2012). Ratajkowski went onto star in the videos for Taio Cruz's "Fast Car" and Maroon 5's "Love Somebody," but her big breakthrough occurred when Robin Thicke spotted her posing nude on the cover of erotica publication treats! and persuaded director Diane Martel to cast her in the promo for his 2013 single, "Blurred Lines." The provocative video, whose uncensored version featured Ratajkowski dancing topless, helped propel the song to a 12-week run at the top of the US Hot 100, and launched Ratajkowski as an international sex symbol. Capitalizing on its phenomenal success, she went onto grace the covers of FHM, GQ and Cosmopolitan, appear in the 2014 Swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated and was announced as the new face of Italian retailer Yamamay. However, proving that she was far more than just a pretty face, Ratajkowski continued to pursue her early acting ambitions and after impressing director David Fincher at a Los Angeles audition, was cast in the role of Ben Affleck's manipulative mistress Andie Fitzgerald in the adaptation of Gillian Flynn's twisty thriller "Gone Girl" (2014). Ratajkowski then played a fictionalized version of herself in big screen venture "Entourage" (2015) and starred as Sophie, the center of a love triangle involving Zac Efron and Wes Bentley's DJs, in the EDM drama "We Are Your Friends" (2015). Ratajkowski further added to her resume later that year when she joined Maya Rudolph, Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig in comedy miniseries "The Spoils Before Dying" (IFC, 2015).
