- Performing Twelfth Night and Uncle Vanya in New York off Broadway. (January 2003)
- Was considered for the lead role in BRIDGET JONES' DIARY along with fellow Brits Kate Winslet and Rachel Weisz, and Cameron Diaz.
- Was spotted by Lars von Trier during a representation of Lilian Hellman's The Children's Hour, in which she played a young student who falsely accuses her teacher of lesbianism.
- Won the role of Bess in BREAKING THE WAVES after Helena Bonham Carter dropped out at the last minute because of the film's explicit sexuality.
- Spent two years at the British Shakespeare School of Acting saying News from town, my Lord. When BREAKING THE NEWS premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1996, someone grapped Emily's shoulders and said to her, Your life is about to change forever. And indeed it has.
- Was Jean-Pierre Jeunet's first choice to play Amelie, but dropped out for personal reasons. She did manage to leave her mark on the film however; Amelie is named after her.
- Nominated for Best Kiss at MTV Movie Awards for PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE (2003) - shared with Adam Sandler
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role at BAFTA Awards for ANGELA'S ASHES (2000)
- Nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at Academy Awards for HILARY AND JACKIE (1999)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role at BAFTA Awards for HILARY AND JACKIE (1999)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for HILARY AND JACKIE (1999)
- Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role at Screen Actors Guild Awards for HILARY AND JACKIE (1999)
- Nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at Academy Awards for BREAKING THE WAVES (1997)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role at BAFTA Awards for BREAKING THE WAVES (1997)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for BREAKING THE WAVES (1997)
Quotes- On her sudden success and America's award shows: "The first Oscarcast, I was definitely functioning in a surreal mode. It was like I was watching myself watch the ceremony. Yet I had a good time. Hey, wearing a beautiful dress and being surrounded by beautiful people is not a terrible way to spend an evening. And I had a great time at all the parties. The second Oscarcast, I just went and planned on enjoying myself. People think of me as such a serious actress, but I find myself behaving like a gadabout."
- On her two 1999 roles, ANGELA'S ASHES and CRADLE WILL ROCK, which had Oscar-potential: "I wasn't prepared for the way people responded to 'Breaking the Waves.' Suddenly, I was being interviewed and being asked all sorts of questions. All my life, I've loved movies, but I didn't foresee the glamour of the Academy Awards. In England, the awards are reported as straight news. In America, they're considered the height of glamour."
- On her childhood preparing her for an acting career: "I was taught the value of imagination at an early age. I didn't have a television. I read a lot of books and developed a good sense of storytelling. I was happy as well, and I think that helped. The more secure you feel, the more unbalanced you can let yourself become."
- On Hollywood's perception of women as beauty objects: "I'm lucky I don't do the kind of work where the main thing is that you're the girl and you look gorgeous. I don't look like that. I'm a funny-looking bugger. I don't feel that I can compete, and I wouldn't want to. Life's too short to spend seven hours a day in the gym and starving yourself."
- "The challenge in playing Bess [in Breaking the Waves] is that, in physical, psychological, intellectual, moral, ethical and political terms, she's a disaster - part saint, part clown. But she has an infinite capacity to love and believe. I tried to make the logic of that transcend those judgements."
Awards- London Critics Circle Film Awards: British Supporting Actress of the Year, RED DRAGON (2003)
- Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture, GOSFORD PARK (2002)
- Toronto Film Critics Association Awards: Best Supporting Performance, Female, PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE (2002)
- London Critics Circle Film Awards: British Actress of the Year, ANGELA'S ASHES (2000)
- British Independent Film Awards: Best Actress, HILARY AND JACKIE (1999)
- European Film Awards: Best Actress, BREAKING THE WAVES (1999)
- Bodil Awards: Best Actress, BREAKING THE WAVES (1997)
- Evening Standard British Film Awards: Most Promising Newcomer, BREAKING THE WAVES (1997)
- London Critics Circle Film Awards: British Newcomer of the Year, BREAKING THE WAVES (1997)
- National Society of Film Critics Awards: Best Actress, BREAKING THE WAVES (1997)
- Robert Festival: Best Actress, BREAKING THE WAVES (1997)
- Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival: President Award - Best Actress, BREAKING THE WAVES (1996)
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards: New Generation Award, BREAKING THE WAVES (1996)
- New York Film Critics Circle Awards: Best Actress, BREAKING THE WAVES (1996)
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