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Canada Emily Bett Rickards is a Canadian actress recognized for her roles in television and film, known for her performances in the superhero drama 'Arrow' and various independent films.
The 'Emily Bett Rickards Acting Scholarship' was announced in February 2019. It is a partnership between the school and Rickards to fund a full scholarship for their acting programs, along with partial funding of $250,000 for other students. Rickards is involved in selecting the scholarship recipients.
Rickards filmed a Public Service Announcement (PSA) in conjunction with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. The PSA advocated for advancements in the treatment of spinal injuries, aligning with a storyline in 'Arrow' where her character became paralyzed and later regained the ability to walk due to a prototype microchip.
In 2016, Rickards launched a T-shirt campaign through Represent.com to support the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA). All proceeds from the campaign were dedicated to the charity.
Emily Bett Rickards made her first professional appearance in 2009, starring in the video for the Nickelback single "Never Gonna Be Alone."
In 2013, Emily Bett Rickards portrayed Felicity Smoak in the web-based promotional tie-in series 'Blood Rush' for 'Arrow,' which was sponsored by Bose Corporation.
In 2024, Emily Bett Rickards launched Paradise Matcha, an all-organic matcha company. The brand is designed to help individuals find their 'inner sparkle' and focus, promoting a healthier lifestyle through natural energy and wellness.
Emily Bett Rickards was born on July 24, 1991, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Her early life included exposure to musical theatre and dance. She pursued her interest in acting by graduating high school early and attending the Vancouver Film School, completing their acting essentials program. Following this, she studied at the Alida Vocal Studio. Her professional career began in 2009 with an appearance in the music video for Nickelback’s single “Never Gonna Be Alone.” This early experience laid the groundwork for her subsequent work in both television and film.
Rickards gained significant recognition in 2012 when she was cast as Felicity Smoak in The CW’s series ‘Arrow.’ Initially
signed for a single episode as a guest star, her character’s positive reception led to her becoming a recurring cast
member for the remainder of the first season, and a series regular from the second season onwards. Her portrayal of
Felicity Smoak extended to other Arrowverse shows, including ‘The Flash,’ ‘Legends of Tomorrow,’ and ‘Supergirl,’
and she also lent her voice to the animated web series ‘Vixen.’ Throughout her time on ‘Arrow,’ from 2012 to 2020,
Rickards’ performance was frequently highlighted by critics as a key component of the show’s success, earning her
multiple award nominations.
Beyond her television work, Rickards has appeared in several films. In 2014, she was
cast in ‘Cowgirls ‘n Angels: Dakota’s Summer.’ The following year, she had a supporting role in the Oscar-nominated
film ‘Brooklyn’ (2015). Her filmography also includes ‘Slumber’ (2016), ‘Axis’ (2017), and the comedy ‘Funny Story’
(2018), which received several film festival awards. More recently, she appeared in ‘We Need to Talk’ (2020) and
is set to star as Mildred Burke in the biopic ‘Queen of the Ring’ (2024), alongside roles in ‘Autumn and the Black
Jaguar’ (2024) and ‘Calamity Jane’ (2024). In 2019, the Vancouver Film School established the “Emily Bett Rickards
Acting Scholarship” in partnership with her.
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