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Lily from Modern Family stuns with unrecognisable new look

Aubrey Anderson-Emmons was just four years old when she became world-famous as sassy and sarcastic Lily in the American comedy Modern Family.

It was the actress's first role, replacing Ella and Jaden Hiller in the third season after the twins' mother said they hadn't enjoyed acting.

"Halfway through season two, their personalities had started to develop, and it was really clear to us that they weren’t enjoying their time on set," their mum Michelle explained to Woman's Day. "So we told the producers the girls wouldn’t be coming back."

This gave Aubrey her opportunity.

Aubrey with actress Sophia Vergara, who plays her aunt Gloria in Modern Family, on the set of the show, showing a dining room scene with orange walls and Aubrey standing on a zebra patterned chair with a pink backpack on her back and a soft pink toy. Sophia wears a tight blue cardigan and black skirt and dangling earrings.
Aubrey with actress Sophia Vergara, who plays her aunt Gloria in Modern Family. Photo: Getty Images

"I started acting when I was only four years old, so I honestly don't remember it," Aubrey revealed.

Her mum is an actress and comedian who was already in the industry.

"Modern Family was technically my first job and basically my first audition," Aubrey said.

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"My mom wasn't trying to get me into the business, but her agent was saying how I'd be perfect for it and I really had a chance," she told Girls' Life. "And my mom was torn because she didn't want me to be disappointed if I didn't book it.

"Ten days later we were signing a contract!

"I remember practising for the audition too, and how nice Jesse [Tyler Ferguson] was."

Jesse Tyler Ferguson sits in a theatre next to a sleeping Eric Stonestreet, who holds a sleeping Aubrey. All three actors are on the set of Modern Family.
Aubrey played Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cam's (Eric Stonestreet) adopted daughter Lily. Photo: Getty Images

In 2011, at age four, she became the youngest person to receive the Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the show's ensemble cast.

Being involved in the show was a lot of fun.

"We get to go to lots of different places," she revealed to Smashing Interviews when she was 13.

"I think my favourite episode was when I got to ride on the dry cleaning rack, and also going to Australia," she added.

Actress Aubrey Anderson-Emmons is cuddled by her mother, who is squatting on a purple carpet against a pink wall with logos. Aubrey wears a tiara, joggers, tights, white fluffy best and pink striped top. Her mum is in jeans and grey jacket.
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons with her mum, actress and comedian Amy Anderson. Photo: Getty Images

She was 13 when the show ended after 11 seasons and, while she said goodbye to Lily, she knows that is why most people know her.

"[Modern Family's] been a huge part of my life. Honestly, it's all I'm known for!" she told Girls' Life.

"They'll say, 'Oh, you look familiar,' or you're trying to make a friend and they're like 'Wait, you're that girl from Modern Family!'

"It's weird, you know? It definitely affects my daily life sometimes and friends can choose you for the wrong reasons."

Actress Aubrey Anderson-Emmons pictured against a theatre wall with her long dark hair worn loose and hoop earrings in a red scoop neck top.
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons is now 15 and living the normal life of an American teen. Photo: Getty Images

Since the show ended in 2020, Aubrey has continued to grow her YouTube channel FoodMania Review, which she launched in 2015 with her mum.

The pair has over 40,000 subscribers and 4.6 million combined views.

And while acting seems to be on the backburner for the 15-year-old for now (well, there has been a pandemic and there is school to keep up with!), she still updates her fans on social media.

Photos of actress Aubrey Anderson-Emmons taken from her Instagram account. At left, she sits with her hair in high pigtails, wearing a pink butterfly tank top in a garden; top right she wears a mini pleated skirt and white crop top holding a walking stick; at bottom right she sits in a pool wearing a bikini.
Aubrey shares pictures of her vacations, including to Costa Rica and attending the celeb launch of Phantom of the Open. Photo: Instagram/@aubreyandersonemmons

And what is she up to?

The normal things of a 15-year-old, really: hanging out with friends, her boyfriend and going on holiday with her family.

Now that's very modern!

Selfies of actress Aubrey Anderson-Emmons with her boyfriend and a friend from Instagram. At left she and her boyfr
Aubrey taking selfies with her boyfriend and a friend. Photo: Instagram/@aubreyandersonemmons

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