Emma Catherine Rigby (born in St Helens, Merseyside, England on 26 September 1989) is an English actress, best known for her role in Hollyoaks as Hannah Ashworth.
Born in St Helens, Merseyside, Rigby attended De La Salle High School in St Helens, but left in 2006 to take up her role in Hollyoaks.
Until 2008 Rigby was represented by the Lamont Casting Agency in Liverpool, but is now managed by the London-based PR and marketing company Octagon.
Emma is friends with co-stars Loui Batley (Sarah Barnes), Jessica Fox (Nancy Hayton), Chris Fountain (Justin Burton) and former co-stars Roxanne McKee (Louise Summers), Carla Chases (Melissa Hurst).
In 2008 Rigby made her debut TV performance as a presenter in the show of The Race Against Cancer - a show covering an international motorsport race featuring some of the biggest motorsport stars. The showed first aired on European TV in June 2008.
In 2007, at the age of 17, Rigby was nominated for Best Actress in the British Soap Awards, (just 1 year late to qualify for Best Dramatic Performance For A Young Actor/Actress) but did not make it to the final 4. She was also nominated for Most Popular Actress at the National Television Awards. Just one year later, she won The British Soap Award for Best Actress and was nominated for Best Dramatic Performance but lost out to Jo Joyner.
Rigby's portrayal of Hannah Ashworth's battle with anorexia attracted praise. The Daily Mail TV critic, Jaci Stephen, wrote on 24 November 2007 that the Hollyoaks storyline had "taught her more than any drama or documentary on anorexia has ever done". Stephen also admitted some of Hannah's scenes had moved her to tears.
Emma Rigby won best storyline for Hannah's eating disorder at the annual Hollyoaks awards. She was up against John Paul and Craig's affair, The 'Who pushed Clare?' storyline, and Kris and Jess's relationship.
At the All About Soap Bubble awards in April 2008, Emma won an award for the 'I'm a Survivor - Bravest soul in soap' category.
Although previously announced as due to leave Hollyoaks in June 2009 Emma has decided to renew her contract an extra 6 months - but sources close to her suggest she still intends to leave after October 2009.
In 2013-14, Emma was a series main cast member as Anastasia Tremaine/The Red Queen, on ABC's Once Upon A Time spin-off, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.
