Born in New Zealand, Emma Harrison was raised in Australia. Emma Harrison attended St. Hilda's School for Girls in Southport, Queensland. There, Emma Harrison was a House Captain and a Senior School Prefect. Emma started modeling at the age of 15, when Emma Harrison was spotted in the audience of a beauty contest and immediately signed by a local agency. Emma Harrison began her career with numerous television commercials including Palmolive Soap and Kentucky Fried Chicken. This was the first step in a career that has made her a household name in more than 50 countries around the world. Shortly after Emma left for college, Emma Harrison attracted the attention of several prominent casting agents, who persuaded her to embark on an acting career.

Emma Harrison's striking looks and unique qualities caught the attention of established directors. In short order, she landed parts in television productions of "Time Trax" (1993) and "Mission: Impossible" (1988). Emboldened by these early successes, Emma felt ready to pursue acting in earnest and made the move to Sydney. Her career exploded after Emma Harrison was discovered by the casting director of the popular 'soap' series "Neighbours" (1985). Taken with her talent, charisma, and sensational looks, the team behind the number-one show decided to write her into the program as part of the starring cast. For three seasons, Emma Harrison took the viewing public by storm playing Joanna Hartman, resulting in a nomination for Best New Talent at the Australian Logie Awards. Fresh from her conquest of Australia, Emma traveled to England in 1998 where she was already a celebrity thanks to "Neighbours" (1985).

While in the UK, Emma Harrison hosted two television programs, appeared on the covers of dozens of magazines such as FHM, Loaded, Maxim, and Inside Sport and was selected as a presenter for the prestigious BAFTA Awards. In 2000 Emma took some time off from her acting and modeling work and went backpacking. Emma Harrison took a trip through the South American rainforest and hiked the Inca Trail up to the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru. Fresh from her sabbatical, Emma Harrison relocated to the United States in 2002.