Emily Kinney

Emily Rebecca Kinney was born on August 15, 1984, in Wayne, Nebraska. Her family moved frequently during her formative years, residing in states such as Nevada, Oregon, and various parts of Nebraska. Kinney attended New York University for a semester before graduating from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre. Following her graduation, she moved to New York City to pursue a career in both Broadway theatre and acting. Early in her career, Kinney performed in 20 plays during her college years and began her professional acting career at the age of 21, notably appearing as Anna in the Broadway production of “Spring Awakening.” She also took on the role of Jean Fordham in the national tour of “August: Osage County.” Her television career started with roles in series such as Showtime’s “The Big C” and NBC’s “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” where she guest-starred as Jeannie Richmonds. She made her film debut in “Aunt Tigress” playing Gina.

Kinney’s breakthrough role came in 2011 when she was cast as Beth Greene in AMC’s critically acclaimed horror drama series, “The Walking Dead.” Despite being 25 at the time of production, she portrayed the 16-year-old sister of Maggie, a role she held for several seasons, eventually becoming a series regular. Her character contributed to “The Walking Dead: Original Soundtrack – Vol. 1,” where she collaborated with Lauren Cohan on the single “The Parting Glass.” Kinney’s time on the show concluded in 2014, though she made a voiceover appearance in 2018 for Andrew Lincoln’s final episode. Alongside her acting, Kinney simultaneously developed her music career, releasing her EP “Blue Toothbrush” in 2011 and later “Expired Love” in 2013, which was re-released in 2014 with additional tracks. She has also engaged in active blogging for “Unscripted Magazine,” sharing her experiences as a young actress in New York.

After “The Walking Dead,” Kinney continued to expand her acting portfolio, making guest appearances on popular shows including ABC’s “Forever” and The CW’s “The Flash,” where she played Brie Larvan, also known as the Bug-Eyed Bandit, a role she later reprised on “Arrow.” She secured recurring roles in Cinemax’s “The Knick” and Showtime’s “Masters of Sex.” In 2015, she released her studio album, “This Is War,” followed by “Oh Jonathan” in 2018, both of which were supported by tours. Her career continued with leading roles in television films like Hallmark Channel’s “Love On The Sidelines” in 2016 and a main cast role in ABC’s “Conviction” from 2016 to 2017. Kinney has consistently balanced her acting and music, featuring in various independent projects and mainstream productions, solidifying her presence in both industries.