Emily Ratajkowski Bio
Emily O’Hara Ratajkowski (born June 7, 1991) is an American model and actress. Born in London to American parents and raised in Encinitas, California, she signed with Ford Models at a young age and built a career that spans high fashion, film, television, and publishing.
She first drew widespread public attention through her appearance in Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” music video, which propelled her into global fame. Beyond modeling, she has appeared in feature films, written a New York Times best-selling book of essays, and become a vocal advocate for women’s rights and reproductive health.
Early Life and Background
Emily O’Hara Ratajkowski was born on June 7, 1991, in Westminster, London, the only child of American school teachers Kathleen Anne Balgley and John David “J.D.” Ratajkowski. Although she was born in England, she was raised in the San Diego suburb of Encinitas, California, where her parents had settled. She spent many of her childhood summers in Bantry, County Cork, Ireland, and in Sant Joan, Mallorca, Spain, where the family vacationed.
Her father was raised Roman Catholic, while her mother is Jewish, giving Ratajkowski a mixed religious upbringing. She has stated that she identifies ethnically as Polish-Israeli, reflecting her family’s Eastern European roots, and she also has Irish ancestry. Her parents’ backgrounds in education and the arts helped shape her early exposure to creative work, including photography and visual art.
As a young person, Ratajkowski tried soccer, acting, and ballet before settling on modeling. She participated in a few local theater productions during her childhood and early teenage years. She attended San Dieguito Academy, a high school in Encinitas, while also traveling to Los Angeles for modeling and acting work.
Path to Celebrity
With encouragement from an acting coach, Ratajkowski met and signed with a talent agent who connected her with Ford Models. At age 14, she signed with the agency and began teen print catalog modeling for retailers such as Kohl’s and Nordstrom. By 15, she was auditioning for Disney and iCarly roles, though she was often typecast as a bully or cheerleader.
After two nondescript film roles, she appeared as Gibby’s girlfriend, Tasha, in two episodes of the third season of Nickelodeon’s iCarly, airing between 2009 and 2010. Her manager encouraged her to take fewer acting engagements so she could be more selective about her projects. She attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for one year in 2009, studying at the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, before deciding to drop out and model full-time.
Her early print work led to her appearance on the cover of the third issue of the artistic erotica magazine treats! in March 2012, a cover she has credited with bringing her two high-profile music video opportunities. Those music video roles, particularly in “Blurred Lines,” would soon transform her public profile.
Emily Ratajkowski Career
Early Career (2004–2012)
Ratajkowski began her modeling career in 2004, signing with Ford Models and working on teen catalog campaigns. Her earliest acting credits included small film roles and two episodes of the Nickelodeon series iCarly during its 2009–2010 third season. She also appeared in early music videos, including Taio Cruz’s “Fast Car” in November 2012 and Maroon 5’s “Love Somebody,” which was released in May 2013.
She also worked on early commercial campaigns for brands like Nikon and Carl’s Jr., and she shot editorials with photographer Tony Duran. Her March 2012 treats! cover established her presence in artistic erotica photography, including a May 2012 shoot with photographer Jonathan Leder. These experiences prepared her for the larger opportunities that followed.
Breakthrough (2013–2015)
On March 20, 2013, Ratajkowski appeared in the music video for “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke, T.I., and Pharrell Williams. The video became a global phenomenon, with the song reaching number one in numerous countries and becoming the longest-running number-one single of the decade in the United States until 2015. Although the video drew controversy for its portrayal of women, it catapulted Ratajkowski to international fame and established her as a prominent figure in popular culture.
In February 2014, Ratajkowski was named one of twelve 50th anniversary swimsuit issue rookies by Sports Illustrated. That September, she made her feature film debut with a supporting role as the mistress of Ben Affleck’s character in David Fincher’s adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl. Her performance was described as “nuanced” by The San Diego Union-Tribune and was highlighted by critics as critical to the film’s narrative.
In 2015, Ratajkowski appeared in the film Entourage as a fictionalized version of herself, the love interest of Adrian Grenier’s Vincent Chase. She also earned her first leading role, opposite Zac Efron, in the musical drama We Are Your Friends, released in August 2015. That same year, she made her runway debut for Marc Jacobs at New York Fashion Week, appeared in the 2014 and 2015 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues, and took on a role in the miniseries The Spoils Before Dying.
Notable Works and Milestones
Ratajkowski’s signature work includes the “Blurred Lines” music video, her role in Gone Girl, and her leading part in We Are Your Friends. She has appeared on covers of major international editions of Vogue and has walked runways at New York, Paris, and Milan Fashion Weeks. In 2015, she was named to Vogue’s Breakout Beauty Stars list, and Models.com has ranked her among the new generation of supermodels.
Emily Ratajkowski Award Nominations
Ratajkowski has been recognized by industry publications and organizations for her modeling work and cultural influence. While she is not widely cited for traditional film award nominations, her work has earned her placements on influential lists such as Maxim’s Hot 100, FHM’s sexiest women rankings, and AskMen’s most desirable women lists, all of which underscore her prominence in the fashion and entertainment world.
Emily Ratajkowski Awards Won
In March 2018, Ratajkowski received the University of Southern California Inspire Award at their inaugural ceremony. That same April, she was named Model of the Year by the Daily Front Row, a recognition of her growing influence in fashion and media.
Emily Ratajkowski Family
Ratajkowski is the only child of American school teachers John David “J.D.” Ratajkowski and Kathleen Anne Balgley. Her family has American roots with Polish-Israeli, Jewish, and Irish heritage, and she has spoken about spending her childhood summers in Ireland and Spain with her parents.
Personal Life
From 2014 to 2018, Ratajkowski dated musician Jeff Magid. On February 23, 2018, she announced on Instagram that she had married actor and producer Sebastian Bear-McClard in a New York City courthouse wedding. They welcomed a son on March 8, 2021. In July 2022, Ratajkowski and Bear-McClard separated, and she filed for divorce that September. In November 2025, she confirmed that she is in a relationship with French film director Romain Gavras. In her 2021 essay collection, My Body, Ratajkowski described herself as bisexual.
