Emma Gilmour was born in Knutsford, Cheshire. As a very young child, Emma had always had a passion for music and performing but lacked confidence until, aged seventeen, as a pupil at Knutsford High School she was given the part of "Rizzo" in the school production of Grease. After three years of training at the North Cheshire Theatre College, Emma landed her first acting job in 1998 in Sky One's Dream Team.