Emma Margaret Marie Tachard-Mackey was born on January 4, 1996, in Le Mans, France, to a French father and an English mother12. This unique heritage granted her dual French-British citizenship13. Mackey spent her childhood in the small town of Sablé-sur-Sarthe, located in the Loire Valley region of France14. Her father worked as a school headmaster, providing a stable and education-focused upbringing5. This multicultural background would later influence her career path and ability to work in both French and English-language productions.

Emma Mackey moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 17 to pursue her higher education, enrolling at the University of Leeds to study English Language and Literature from 2013 to 201612. This transition marked a significant cultural shift for Mackey, who experienced a culture shock, particularly noting the stark difference in drinking habits between France and England5. Despite the initial adjustment, Mackey thrived academically and creatively at Leeds, directing and appearing in various stage productions during her time there1. She graduated in 2016, laying the foundation for her future career in acting13.

Emma Mackey's breakthrough role came in 2019 with the Netflix comedy-drama series "Sex Education," where she portrayed Maeve Wiley, an intelligent and quick-witted "bad girl" who convinces fellow student Otis Milburn to start an underground sex therapy business at their school1. Her performance garnered significant praise, with The Hindustan Times describing her as "a revelation" and comparing her to Florence Pugh1. Mackey's work on the series earned her a British Academy Television Award nomination in 2021 and a National Comedy Award in 20221. Despite the show's success, Mackey has expressed some discomfort with aspects of her character's portrayal, stating, "I never feel less beautiful than when I'm in Sex Ed" due to the costume choices and teenage character she embodies5.

Emma Mackey's portrayal of Emily Brontë in Frances O'Connor's directorial debut "Emily" (2022) has been widely praised for its passionate and nuanced depiction of the enigmatic author. The film takes creative liberties with Brontë's life, imagining events that may have inspired her to write "Wuthering Heights"12. Mackey brings Emily to life as a complex character with conflicting temperaments - anxious yet exuberant, withdrawn yet passionate1. Her performance captures Emily's struggle against societal norms and her family's expectations, particularly through a fictional romance with William Weightman (Oliver Jackson-Cohen)24. While some critics note historical inaccuracies, Mackey's compelling portrayal offers an emotionally authentic interpretation of Emily Brontë's artistic journey and inner world24.