Top 10 Emerald Fennell movies and TV shows you must not miss

Hollywood actress and screenwriter Emerald Fennell has emerged as one of the extraordinarily talented and visually stunning media personas lately. Her unique and provocative filmmaking style wins the hearts of global audiences, depicting sugar-coated bitterness and sharp critiques against societal norms through a highly contrasting cinematic backdrop. 

Emerald defies the age-old, classic rules of vengeful thriller storywriting, delivering the immensely talked-about aristocratic and freshest satires of the decade that reshape film literature with a radical pop-opera essence.

Well, her acting career officially started while attending higher education at Oxford. She took part in minor roles on the small screen, with her debut in the show ‘Trial & Retribution’, with her episode airing on ITV in January 2007.   

Emerald Fennell has established herself as one of contemporary cinema’s most distinctive voices — first as a critically acclaimed actress in prestige British productions, then as the Oscar-winning writer-director behind Promising Young Woman and Saltburn, and now as the creative force behind the most anticipated 2026 film release, Wuthering Heights.

This complete guide covers every notable Emerald Fennell Movies and TV shows — from her early supporting roles through her directorial masterpieces — with character names, critical context, and what makes each entry significant in her evolving career. 

Emerald Fennell & her Silver Screen Masterpieces

Firstly, there has always been a special thing about Fennell’s portfolio. It is her selectiveness towards the projects she undertakes. She is notably selective about projects that come her way. 

Every single entry of hers sparked global talks, generating widespread critical discussion and trendy upheaval on social media.

So, it’s time to look into her amazing works.   

Mr. Nice (2010)

This was Emerald Fennell’s debut film, where she played a small side role of a character named Rachael. Mr. Nice is a criminal biography based on the real-life story of the infamous Welsh marijuana smuggler, Howard Marks. 

Albert Nobbs (2011)

An Oscar-nominated film where Fennell portrayed a small supporting role as Mrs. Smythe-Willard. This film highlights one of the best performances in her early acting career, while introducing her to fellow actor and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge. She indirectly influenced her in becoming a writer-cum-director, in later years. 

Anna Karenina (2012)

Here, Emerald played a supporting character, Princess Merkalova. Anna Karenina is a film based on a famous novel by Tolstoy. 

The Danish Girl (2015)

It is one of the most praiseworthy performances in her acting career, portraying the character of Elsa. The Danish Girl is a highly revered and Oscar-winning biographical film of Lili Elbe. 

Pan  (2015) 

Emerald took up a minor role as a Commander in this fantasy adventure film, directed by Joe Wright. It was her second film with him. 

Vita & Virginia (2018)

It is a period drama portraying the love relationship of two renowned writers, Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West. Here, Fennell played the character of the former’s real sister, Vanessa Bell. She happened to be a British artist by profession in the story. 

Promising Young Woman (2020)

This is Emerald Fennell’s directorial debut, for which she won the Oscar in the category of Best Original Screenplay. Her prominent creation earned four other Oscar nominations in different categories – the best picture, the best actress, best director, and best film editing. 

The amazing thing is that besides directing this film, Emerald also played a funky cameo role as a makeup tutorial TV show’s host. 

Barbie (2023)

It was one of the biggest blockbuster films in 2023, instigating a massive response from the global public. Emerald Fennell portrayed Midge, a pregnant Barbie doll that Mattel discontinued in reality. Her role was highly praiseworthy. 

Saltburn (2023)

Saltburn became a genuine cultural phenomenon — its internet-breaking final scene dominated social media discussion for weeks, and the film’s exploration of class obsession and desire became one of the most analyzed cinematic texts of 2023. Jacob Elordi and Barry Keoghan’s performances, combined with Fennell’s precise direction, made it a defining film of the decade’s first half.

This was her self-written and directed film, where she played a minor, uncredited cameo role as a smooching guest in a lavish party background scene. She also won the Filmmaker of the Year at the Mill Valley Film Festival for this film, and the film itself won the Audience Award at the Savannah Film Festival.   

Wuthering Heights (2026)

Her most recent and applauded project is Wuthering Heights. She is the writer, director, and producer of this film, drawing bold artistic choices and vivid cinematography. Undoubtedly, this has sparked a lot of critical discussion among people.  

TV shows of Emerald Fennell

Trial and Retribution (1997-2007) 

She appeared as Shena in the two-part episode ‘Sins of the Father’, which was filmed in 2006 and broadcast in January 2007. This was her debut TV show. It came on the iTV channel.

Any Human Heart (2010)

She played a small character named Lotte in this mini-series. The story was based on a famous William Boyd novel, set in the 20th-century background. It originally aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom and later on PBS in the United States 

Chickens (2011–2013)

Emerald Fennell gained enough recognition starring as Agnes in the sitcom Chickens. The original pilot episode aired on Channel 4 in 2011, and later on moved to Sky1 (now Sky Max) after two years.    

Blandings (2013-2014)

It was a British comedy show where she played the character of Monica Simmons – a very strict woman who takes care of the central character’s favourite pet swine. It aired on the BBC channel, 

Murder on the Home Front (2013)

The story revolves around a murder mystery set in the backdrop of World War II, and the forensic specialists who investigate the crime scenes. Here, Emerald Fennell played the role of Issy Quennell. This TV show originally aired on ITV.  

Drifters (2013 – 2016)

It was a popular comedy programme where she enacted the guest star, Lizzie, in the 4th season. It was aired on the E4 channel of the British television network. 

Call the Midwife (2012–present)

It is a long-running BBC television series set in the working-class East End of London during the 1950s and 1960s. Emerald played the lead role of an intelligent, dedicated nurse, Patsy Mount, who happened to be in a secret, same-sex relationship with her fellow nurse, Delia. It aired originally on the BBC. 

Victoria (2016-2019)

She guest-starred in this historical drama on ITV, portraying the character of Lady Ada Lovelace during the 2nd series of this play. 

The Crown (2016–2023) – Played Camilla Parker Bowles

This is one of her most recent and modern acting roles played. It was globally aired on Netflix. Here, she took up the role of Camilla Parker Bowles. For her exceptional performance, she also received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

KILLING EVE (2019) — SEASON 2 SHOWRUNNER 

Perhaps Emerald Fennell’s most consequential television work was not as an actress but as a writer. For Season 2 of Killing Eve (2019), Fennell served as head writer, executive producer, and showrunner — taking over from Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who had written Season 1. 

Her episodes maintained the darkly comic, psychologically complex tone established in Season 1 while adding her own signature flair — the same sensibility she would later channel into Promising Young Woman. 

For her work on Killing Eve Season 2, Fennell received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations, significantly raising her international profile and positioning her for her Oscar-winning directorial debut the following year. 

Decoding the Fennell Style: What Makes Her Work So Addictive?

If you see an Emerald Fennell project, you will know it instantly. Whether her films or TV shows, it seems as if the ‘thing’ is already ingrained in her DNA. Let alone the mastery of filmmaking and direction! She is truly an incredibly versatile figure in the film world. 

Her journey from acting to Oscar-winning writing and directing demonstrates her status as one of the most fearless and creative artists working today. Here are certain things that you can never miss noticing.

The darkness behind her aesthetics: She has uniquely dark and heavily twisted plots that are masked with beautiful and awe-striking settings.

Class and voyeurism: Her scripts frequently investigate outsiders looking into worlds of immense privilege, exploring the toxic obsession that follows.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)