Emmy Rossum

The delicate Emmy Rossum.



Emmy Rossum learned breath control, language dexterity, and voice discipline when she sang in the childrens chorus, sometimes with the great tenor Placido Domingo or with Dolly Parton, at the Metropolitan Opera. Emmy took her vocal education to new heights when she came out with her debut album, Inside Out in 2007: "I call it ambient pop. I took a year off from films to find my sonic landscape and worked with people in rock, pop and electronic. The voice is just such a powerful instrument, and I wanted to stretch the human voice as much as we could."

Emmy Rossum also developed a taste for good clothes and proper makeup from her time in the Opera. "That was also my introduction to costumes and makeup and hair and really gaining an appreciation of the work involved and in what an art it all really is."



Starting with a string of TV and movie roles, Emmy Rossum had her breakout role in The Phantom of the Opera, for which she won many awards: "The costumes were so ornate, and I got to wear these beautiful dresses made just for me." With her movie successes Emmy Rossum got to wear designer gowns by Ralph Lauren, Dior, and Chanel. "I like having relationships directly with designers. They really get to know me, and then they can make something that really reflects who I am." Emmy describes her personal style as feminine, chic, comfortable, but not slouchy.

Designer clothes were common at Rossum's Manhattan school, the elite all-girl Spence School, where Emmy stood apart because of her modest background. "All those girls are really, really affluent. My mom's a single mom and worked really hard to put me into that great school," she told Steppin' Out magazine. "But it was so catty! You definitely know your place when you're not as affluent. I wouldn't want my own children to ever go there." In school the other girls called her 'Emmy Possum'.



She was born Emmanuelle Grey Rossum (September 12, 1986) in New York, but chose to be called Emmy because it was easier for people to pronounce. Her family is Jewish with Dutch and Scottish-Irish roots. Eventually she left school to focus on her acting: "When I was little I wanted to be a doctor and a lawyer and an astronaut and, especially, an opera singer. With this, through acting, I can really do that."

At 13 Emmy Rossum played a toothless Appalachian orphan in Songcatcher, honored as the "best debut" of 2000. Two years later, she played Sean Penn's murdered daughter in Clint Eastwood's critically acclaimed Mystic River.



Emmy Rossum signed on as PiNKiTUDE's official spokesperson because: "My godmother had breast cancer and recently underwent a double mastectomy. She's now cancer-free so I am here for her and to hope we can help others, too." Emmy is also an ambassador for Cartier's LOVE campaign and chose Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation as her charity of choice.

Emmy Rossum saw action in movies like The Day After Tomorrow, Poseidon, and Dragonball Evolution. For this new movie Emmy Rossum learned how to shoot three guns and ride a motorcycle; she also got martial arts training for playing the part of Japanese Manga comic character Bulma.



To look pretty Emmy Rossum takes care of her skin by drinking enough water and not getting too much sun exposure. As for makeup she believes less is more: "I try to do as little as I can with makeup. I just like everything to look natural and pretty, simple and fresh."

Emmy Rossum, Erika Christensen, and Jaime King at the Peter Som fashion show on September 13, 2006

Emmy Rossum out shopping with her teacup Maltese named Chrissie. Emmy does not smoke but has a favorite cocktail: "I love a whiskey sour, and I know most people can't believe a small-framed girl like me can drink a whiskey sour, but I can. And I like Bellinis."

Her favorite role model is Halle Berry. "She's a terrific actress, and breathtakingly beautiful. She finds a great balance between making big blockbusters and smaller movies that are obviously labors of love."



The 5'8" tall Emmy Rossum has a big sweet tooth and loves eating ice-cream, chocolates, and desserts. She even cooks her own desserts: "I do an excellent chocolate soufflè and excellent crème brule." Rossum took cooking classes at Le Cordon Bleu, London Culinary Arts Institute. "I'm not a person for going out and partying," she says, "My mom always cooked when I was growing up, and I like to do the same. It's a way to entertain people and do something nice for them."

Emmy Rossum is not a vegetarian, but she is not a big meat eater either, and likes to go fishing. "I try to eat foods that are very simple, like fish. I don’t adhere to any diet per see, but I am careful. I just don’t deprive myself. Life's too short." Rossum stays in shape by hiking, dancing, or kickboxing.




Emmy Rossum photographed by Jake Guy for Vegas Magazine. Rossum surprised people by saying that she is open to posing in the nude: "But I don't think I could ever do full-frontal (nudity)."