Nathalie Joanne Emmanuel, born on March 2, 1989, in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, is a British actress known for her roles in both television and film. She is of mixed heritage, with her mother being Dominican and her father of half-Saint Lucian and half-English descent.

Her passion for acting was evident from a young age, and her mother encouraged her to pursue it by enrolling her in acting, singing, and dancing classes. At the age of 10, she played Young Nala in the West End production of The Lion King. She attended St Hilda's School and later Westcliff High School for Girls.

Her career began in 2006 when she starred as Sasha Valentine in the soap opera Hollyoaks. Her character's storylines included prostitution and heroin addiction, which showcased her acting range. She remained on the show until 2010 and later presented BBC Three's Websex: What's the Harm?, investigating the online sexual habits of young people in the UK.

In 2012, she made her film debut in the thriller Twenty8k. The following year, she gained international recognition for her role as Missandei, Daenerys Targaryen's interpreter, in HBO's fantasy drama series Game of Thrones. Her performance earned her a promotion to a regular cast member in 2015.

Nathalie Emmanuel continued to build her career with supporting roles in films such as Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials in 2015, Maze Runner: The Death Cure in 2018, and the Fast & Furious films Furious 7 in 2015, The Fate of the Furious in 2017, F9 in 2021, and Fast X in 2023. She also had lead roles in Army of Thieves in 2021 and Megalopolis in 2024.

In her personal life, Nathalie Emmanuel follows a plant-based diet for health reasons and has been dating British actor Alex Lanipekun since 2018. She has been open about her struggles with body image and credits social media for helping her improve her self-perception. She practices yoga regularly, which she finds beneficial for both her physical and mental health. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially during post-lockdown hangouts.

Her best movies include Furious 7, where she played the role of Ramsey, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials and Maze Runner: The Death Cure, where she portrayed Harriet, and Army of Thieves, where she played Gwendoline Starr.

She also starred in The Invitation and Last Train to Christmas. Her performance in Game of Thrones earned her nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.