Emily Ratajkowskiis a world-famous model, actress, and activist who some might be surprised to learn got her big break on the teen sitcomiCarly.Though she has since been in a colorful array of film and television projects, the star first rose to prominence on the Nickelodeon show, appearing in two episodes of the comedy in 2009 and 2010. Despite her brief stint on the feel-good series, fans were stunned when they realized Ratajkowski had a brief role.
The outspoken performer and successful model went on to establish herself as a major presence in the entertainment industry, memorably appearing in movies likeGone Girl,I Feel Pretty, andIn Darkness, as well as in cinema legend Mel Brooks’ 2023 sketch comedy limited seriesHistory of the World, Part II. In April 2023, Ratajkowski revealed she wasdone with actingdue to misogyny in Hollywood. Let’s take a look back at her career and early beginnings, starting with her time oniCarly.
Early Beginnings as a Child Actor
Emily Ratajkowski began her Hollywood career as both an actress and model, participating in a few smaller theater productions before signing with a talent agent and Ford Models at just 14 years old. She would go on to audition for roles on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon before landing a two-episode guest arc on the smash hitteen sitcomiCarly, which swiftly gave Ratajkowski a platform that opened many doors for her blossoming career. In the fan-favorite series featuring the talents of stars like Miranda Cosgrove, Jennette McCurdy, and Nathan Kress, Ratajkowski appeared as Tasha, Gibby’s beautiful girlfriend in 2009 and 2010.
She portrayed the character in Season 3, Episode 3’s “iSpeed Date” and in the season’s eleventh episode as well, and was just 18 years old when she first landed the part. Ratajkowski has since expressed her gratitude for her brief stint on the successful show but also felt uninspired when auditioning for the kid-centric networks. Shetold Harper’s Bazaarin 2016, “…I didn’t relate to those characters. They were archetypes that those shows specifically play into for prepubescent girls, where it’s like the b**chy cheerleader…”
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Regardless,iCarlygave the performer her start and paved the way for future roles and opportunities, and it didn’t take long for Ratajkowski to take on more mature and adult projects.
Shedding Her Nickelodeon Image
After gaining some recognition for her appearance iniCarly,Ratajkowski decided to shift her focus solely to modeling and landed numerous high-profile campaigns and editorials, most notably in a 2012 issue of the artistic erotica magazinetreats!.The buzzed-about cover led Ratajkowski to nab two prominent roles in 2013 music videos, Maroon 5’sLove Somebodyand Robin Thicke, T.I., and Pharrell Williams’Blurred Lines, the latter of which caused quite the controversy since its original release due to its lyrics being perceived as sexist and inappropriate for its perceiveddegradation of women.
Nonetheless, her exposure and appearance in the music video skyrocketed her to stardom and led Ratajkowski to widespread notoriety, and after more modeling opportunities she set her sights on the big screen. In 2014, Ratajkowski landed arguably her most prominent film role to date when she portrayed Annie Fitzgerald, the mistress toBen Affleck’s characterin the critically-lauded psychological thrillerGone Girl.She was able to showcase her acting capabilities in the taut picture and began taking on more film and television projects.
Mainstream Success
Following her supporting role inGone Girl, Ratajkowski went back to pursuing an acting career and starred in movies likeWe Are Your Friends,I Feel Pretty,In Darkness, andWelcome Home, before sharing the screen with Theo James in the 2019 crime dramaLying and Stealing.The talented pair portray two savvy con artists who join forces to commit a lucrative and life-changing heist, but their blossoming romantic feelings and ever-mounting stakes threaten their ultimate sting. The thrilling flick showcased the winning chemistry between James and Ratajkowski and was a fun, fast-paced good time for audiences, and is the actress' most recent cinematic release.
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Ratajkowski subsequently had roles in television shows includingEasyandZiwe,and in 2023 she joined a star-studded cast to appear as Mary Magdalene in Mel Brooks' uproarious sketch comedy miniseriesHistory of the World, Part II,working opposite popular performers like Nick Kroll, Jack Black, Danny DeVito, and Wanda Sykes. Outside of the acting world, Ratajkowski released her personal essay collectionMy Bodyin 2021, to positive fanfare and acclaim from critics.
Ratajkowski’s Open For a Return to iCarly
Ratajkowski has come a long way since her early days oniCarly,though she still has immense respect and fondness for the sitcom and its cast and crew. After the comedy was revived in 2021 and made its highly buzzed about debut on Paramount+, sherevealed to Buzzfeedthat she would “definitely” be open to making an appearance in the revival, amusingly adding, “I get called Tasha on the internet a lot, which, I’m honored.” The new version ofiCarlyis currently in its third season and has impressed both audiences and critics, with both new and old viewers flocking to watch the nostalgia-fueled revival.
It seems as though the show’s stars are not ruling out the possibility of a cameo, as actor Nathan Kress (Freddie Benson) told E! News they already are bringing familiar faces back in some episodes and could do the same for Ratajkowski after learning she was game. He revealed in the interview, “So, we were able to bring back people that we saw a good 10, 15 years ago and see where they are now, so a little bit of nostalgia there…We can’t do a season ofiCarlywithout bringing back some folks from the olden days.”
Only time will tell if Ratajkowski willreturn to heriCarlyrootsand the acting world, and in the meantime, fans can follow the star’s modeling career and social media presence as they wait in anticipation.
