Browning was born in Melbourne, Victoria, the daughter of Shelley and Andrew Browning.[1] She has two younger brothers, Nicholas and Matthew.
Emily Browning's acting career began at the age of eight years old when she was noticed by a classmate's father at a school play and he recommended that she pursue acting as a profession.
A successful career in Australian film and television productions soon followed, including The Man Who Sued God, in which she played the daughter of Billy Connolly's character.
She later co-starred again with Connolly in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, in which she played the role of Violet Baudelaire.
She stated interest in doing a sequel of the movie A Series of Unfortunate Events although if a sequel was made, she would most likely not be cast as she has grown out of the role.[2]
