Emma is a native of Southern California having been born in Glendale and raised in Valencia. She made her professional acting debut at the age of 12 as part of the original Broadway cast of the Tony Award winning musical 'Matilda'. Before that, she was one of the final seven finalists selected from a nationwide search of over 2,000 girls for the role of 'Annie' in the 2012 Broadway revival of the classic musical. She has attended both Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and New York's Professional Performing Arts School.