Emma Chamberlain Isn’t Chasing Lead Roles After Her Acting Debut — Here’s Why
From internet star to rising actor, Emma Chamberlain is seizing a new spotlight with her acting debut in Forbidden Fruits — and she’s doing it on her terms.
Emma Chamberlain, one of the internet’s most recognizable faces, just stepped into her first movie and, honestly, she’s doing it the smart way: start small, figure it out, don’t try to be the savior of the whole film on day one.
The plan: ease in, no hero ball
On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 12, Chamberlain explained why she didn’t go chasing a lead role out of the gate. She wanted the experience without the crushing expectations that come with carrying a movie.
"I didn’t want to go into anything and be the lead," she said. "Too much pressure."
So she plays Pickle in Forbidden Fruits, a part she called the right size for a first swing. Translation: dip a toe, don’t cannonball.
What is Forbidden Fruits?
The film (which premiered March 27) is a dark comedy with a very particular vibe — and yes, everyone has produce names. Lili Reinhart leads as Apple, a retail worker who secretly runs a cult alongside coworkers Cherry and Fig. When new hire Pumpkin (played by Lola Tung) pokes holes in their curated sisterhood, the trio is forced to deal with their own toxins... or things get bloody. The ensemble also includes Alexandra Shipp and Victoria Pedretti.
Chamberlain’s Pickle fits right into that offbeat, slightly twisted tone — the exact lane she says she wants to keep exploring.
Did she catch the acting bug?
Pretty much. For someone best known for vlogs and viral Met Gala interviews, Chamberlain says stepping into a scripted character was way more fun than she (or anyone around her) expected. It clearly clicked.
What she wants to do next
She told People she’s eyeing the weirder end of the spectrum: indie, stylized, and a little dark. Think filmmakers like Wes Anderson and Tim Burton. Her comfort watches track with that: Coraline, Napoleon Dynamite, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Moonrise Kingdom. As for roles, she’s game to swing nerdy, go full mean-girl, or lean into something haunted and Burton-y. In other words, quirky and specific over generic and glossy.
Bottom line: Chamberlain isn’t pretending to be a capital-A Actor overnight. She’s starting where it makes sense, liked it more than she planned to, and already has a surprisingly clear compass for where she wants to go. Not a bad first act.