Aubrey Anderson-Emmons opens up about life on Modern Family and life after fame
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons is sharing life behind the spotlight—and what growing up as a child actress on one of TV's favorite sitcoms was actually like.
Now 17, Anderson-Emmons initially won over viewers at the age of 4 when she made her debut as Lily Tucker-Pritchett on Modern Family in 2011. The ABC show that ran until 2020 made her a household name as the clever daughter of Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cam (Eric Stonestreet). Her deadpan delivery and assurance with veteran adult actors established her as a talent from the beginning.
In an honest TikTok video shared in early May, Anderson-Emmons looked back on her eight-year experience on the show and how life has been since. "Have some tea and talk to me about how I grew up on a TV show and what I'm doing with my life now and my projects that I'm currently working on," she said to her fans.
Speaking to one of the most frequent questions that she is asked—how she knew that she wanted to become an actress so young—she gave a warm and candid reply. "They ask you questions like, 'Oh, how did you know that you truly wanted to do that? At 4 years old, how do you know that you adore something when you're that little?'" she said. "The truth is… you don't."
Nevertheless, she clarified that her choice to appear on the show was not one that was coerced. "No one was like, 'You're gonna do this'… It was not like that. And I was not abused on set or anything like that. I swear to God," she explained. "But it's true; you don't know what you're getting yourself into as a 4-year-old when you sign a contract to be on a show for a series regular."
And growing up in Hollywood , according to Anderson-Emmons, was a real-life experience—one that's difficult to contrast with a "normal" childhood. "That's all I knew," she said.
But fame was challenging. She shared that many had been critical of her acting and that some wondered if she was talented. "People really took a dig on my acting choices or thought I was a bad actor," she confessed.
In spite of the backlash, she's attained a sense of confidence and self-belief. In retrospect, she said she no longer has to "prove myself to other people."
Now older and focused on new projects, Anderson-Emmons is ready to carve out her own path beyond the world of sitcoms—on her own terms. And while her journey began in the spotlight, she’s making it clear that the next chapter will be defined by her own voice and vision.
Now 17, Anderson-Emmons initially won over viewers at the age of 4 when she made her debut as Lily Tucker-Pritchett on Modern Family in 2011. The ABC show that ran until 2020 made her a household name as the clever daughter of Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cam (Eric Stonestreet). Her deadpan delivery and assurance with veteran adult actors established her as a talent from the beginning.
In an honest TikTok video shared in early May, Anderson-Emmons looked back on her eight-year experience on the show and how life has been since. "Have some tea and talk to me about how I grew up on a TV show and what I'm doing with my life now and my projects that I'm currently working on," she said to her fans.
Speaking to one of the most frequent questions that she is asked—how she knew that she wanted to become an actress so young—she gave a warm and candid reply. "They ask you questions like, 'Oh, how did you know that you truly wanted to do that? At 4 years old, how do you know that you adore something when you're that little?'" she said. "The truth is… you don't."
Nevertheless, she clarified that her choice to appear on the show was not one that was coerced. "No one was like, 'You're gonna do this'… It was not like that. And I was not abused on set or anything like that. I swear to God," she explained. "But it's true; you don't know what you're getting yourself into as a 4-year-old when you sign a contract to be on a show for a series regular."
And growing up in Hollywood , according to Anderson-Emmons, was a real-life experience—one that's difficult to contrast with a "normal" childhood. "That's all I knew," she said.
But fame was challenging. She shared that many had been critical of her acting and that some wondered if she was talented. "People really took a dig on my acting choices or thought I was a bad actor," she confessed.
In spite of the backlash, she's attained a sense of confidence and self-belief. In retrospect, she said she no longer has to "prove myself to other people."
Now older and focused on new projects, Anderson-Emmons is ready to carve out her own path beyond the world of sitcoms—on her own terms. And while her journey began in the spotlight, she’s making it clear that the next chapter will be defined by her own voice and vision.
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