Emmy Rossum Biography

Summary

"Emmanuelle Grey 'Emmy' Rossum" (born September 12, 1986) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She has starred in films such as "The Day After Tomorrow", "Poseidon", "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Dragonball Evolution".

Early life

Rossum was born in New York City, New York, the only child of Cheryl, a single mother who worked as a corporate photographer and an investment banker. She was named after her grandfather, whose first name was Emanuel. However, she was given the name Emmanuelle, using the feminine spelling. Her parents divorced when her mother was pregnant. Rossum was raised by her mother and has only met her father twice. Her song 'Anymore,' from her album "Inside Out", is based on this experience. Her family is Jewish. She is the niece of Vera Wang, to whom she is related by marriage.

Upon singing 'Happy Birthday' in 12 different keys, Rossum was welcomed to join the Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus by chorus director Elena Doria. Over the course of five years, she sang onstage and had the chance to perform with other opera greats, such as Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. For $5-10 a night, Rossum sang in six different languages, in 20 different operas, including "La bohème", "Turandot", a Carnegie Hall presentation of "La damnation de Faust" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream". She also worked under the direction of Franco Zeffirelli in "Carmen". Rossum joked in interviews that her vocal talent and affinity for music developed because her mother always listened to classical music and operas while she was pregnant with her.

By age 12, Rossum had grown too big for the children's costumes. An increasing interest in pursuing acting led to taking classes with Flo Salant Greenberg of The Actor's Workshop in New York City. She also hired an agent, and subsequently, auditioned for many acting roles.

Career

Acting

The year 1997 saw Rossum's television debut with a guest appearance on "Law & Order" as Alison Martin. In 1999, she had a recurring role as the original Abigail Williams in the long-running daytime soap opera "As the World Turns". She also had a guest role as Caroline Beels in "Snoops". Rossum was nominated for a Young Artist Award nomination in 1999 for Best Performance in a TV Movie for her work in the made-for-tv movie "Genius". Following that movie, she portrayed a young Audrey Hepburn in the ABC TV movie "The Audrey Hepburn Story" (2000).

Rossum made her big screen debut in 2000's "Songcatcher" as Deladis Slocumb, an Appalachian orphan. Debuting at the Sundance Film Festival, the film won the Special Jury Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance. For her role, Rossum received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Debut Performance and also had the opportunity to sing a duet with Dolly Parton on the "Songcatcher" soundtrack.

"Variety magazine" named Rossum as 'One of the Ten to Watch' in 2000. In "Nola" (2003), Rossum played the title character, who was an aspiring songwriter. In her first major studio film, Clint Eastwood's "Mystic River", Rossum starred as Katie Markum, the ill-fated daughter of small-business owner Jimmy Markum, played by Sean Penn. As Katie, Rossum was said to have 'projected an aura of innocence that made her character's tragic death memorable and heartbreaking.'

Following "Mystic River", Rossum had a breakthrough role as Laura Chapman in the Roland Emmerich eco-disaster film "The Day After Tomorrow." She later returned to New York, where she was the last to audition, in full costume and make-up, for the coveted role of Christine Daae in the on-screen adaptation of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera". Following an international search for talent, and having nearly missed the audition on account of a family engagement, Rossum was asked to audition in person for Webber at his home in New York. After seeing her audition, Webber felt she proved her ability to play the young opera singer who becomes the object of the phantom's obsessive love. For her role as Christine Daae, Rossum received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a musical or comedy. She is the youngest actress ever to be nominated for that particular award. She also received a Critics' Choice Award for Best Young Actress, along with a Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor and other awards.

In 2006, Rossum appeared in "Poseidon" - Wolfgang Petersen's high-budget remake of the disaster film "The Poseidon Adventure". She played Jennifer Ramsey, the daughter of Kurt Russell's character, Robert Ramsey. As Jennifer, she is described as a 19-year-old heroine because she is not a damsel in distress, and is very proactive and strong in all situations. Rossum also appeared as Juliet Capulet in a 2006 Williamstown Theatre Festival production of William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet".

In early 2009 Rossum appeared in "Dragonball Evolution". Rossum described her action role in "Dragonball" as the hardest thing she's ever done.. Her next big screen venture is the indie "Dare"

Recording

After her role in "The Phantom of the Opera", Rossum was offered several deals to record classical albums, but refused, opting to create an album of contemporary, more mainstream music. Rossum said, 'I was inspired to cut this album because I'm so frustrated listening to the radio these days. There is so little emotional honesty'. Regarding the sound and style of her music, she said, 'It's pop music, but not Britney Spears bubblegum pop. I want it to have a David Gray or Annie Lennox feel. I've been spending up to 12 hours a day in the studio'. Rossum cites Dolly Parton, Madonna, Cher and Barbra Streisand as some of her influences.

Rossum's album, entitled "Inside Out", was produced by Stuart Brawley. It was released on October 23, 2007. For the promotion of the record, Geffen Records featured the song, 'Slow Me Down', as part of the second volume of Hollywood Records' "Girl Next" compilation album, which was released on July 10, 2007.

On October 27, 2007, Rossum sang the national anthem at the New Jersey Devils' first home game of the 2007-08 NHL season, which was also the first game the team played in the newly-constructed Prudential Center. In December 2007, Rossum released three Christmas songs on the EP "Carol of the Bells".

Rossum describes herself as a light lyric soprano, though she admits her voice is still developing.

Personal life

Rossum is a 1996 graduate of the Spence School, a private school in Manhattan. She received her high school diploma at 15 years old via online extension courses offered by Stanford University's Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY). She currently attends Columbia University.

Rossum is a YouthAIDS ambassador. She is also the official spokesperson for 'PiNKiTUDE' - a campaign to help raise breast cancer awareness.

Rossum is gluten-intolerant. She revealed to MTV News that she is allergic to wheat after MTV News gave her a cupcake on-camera to celebrate her 22nd birthday; she was only able to eat the frosting.