Emmanuelle Vaugier has built a career portraying women with determination, resilience, and confidence. When asked which role felt most like her real personality, the Vancouver-born actress points to Mia, the bubbly ballet teacher in Two and a Half Men. In the show’s seventh season opener, Mia seeks help from ex-fiancé Charlie, played by Charlie Sheen, to launch a singing career. Her off-key performance of a Lou Rawls hit became one of the sitcom’s most memorable comedic moments.
Vaugier recalls the role fondly, saying Mia reflected her goofier, lighter side—quite different from the villains and mysterious figures she often plays. Although she enjoys singing, she admits with a laugh that not everyone may enjoy hearing her perform. Working with Sheen was a positive experience, and the two shared a fun, relaxed on-set dynamic.
The actress recently brought that same energy to Stranger in the House, filmed in a former Victoria care facility doubling as a hospital and police station. Directed by Allan Harmon, the thriller follows Vaugier as Jade, a successful lawyer caring for her widowed father. After returning from her honeymoon, Jade learns her father’s caregiver has married him. When her father dies under suspicious circumstances, Jade sets out to uncover the truth.
Vaugier describes Jade as strong-willed and relentless, a perfect match for her history of portraying powerful women. While her co-star Jordana Largy plays a character with darker motives, Vaugier emphasizes that the two share a friendly off-screen rapport.
Her filmography reflects her versatility. She has portrayed call girls, journalists, detectives, FBI agents, vixens, and even biblical figures. Fans know her from CSI: NY as Detective Jessica Angell, from Lost Girl as a supernatural leader, and from the action-packed Human Target. She has also starred in Syfy’s Painkiller Jane and embraced the darker side in horror films like Saw II and Saw IV.
Vaugier enjoys action-adventure roles, particularly those involving stunts and complex characters. She notes that playing villains often offers more creative freedom and fun. The actress also earned recognition in Maxim’s Hot 100 list and Femme Fatale’s “50 Sexiest Women on the Planet,” but her career choices prove she’s far more than just a glamorous face.
Her connection to Victoria dates back 15 years when she filmed the thriller Ripper. Since then, she has appeared in a wide range of projects, including Mistresses, where she played Niko, a charismatic mixologist who stirred up drama as easily as cocktails. She likens the series to Melrose Place—juicy, playful, and unapologetically soapy.
Gamers may also recognize her as the voice and likeness of Nikki in Need for Speed: Carbon. Filming the role involved green-screen technology and imaginative action sequences with cars that only existed digitally, an experience she says she would gladly repeat.
Outside of acting, Vaugier is a passionate advocate for animals. She runs a charitable foundation called the Fluffball, supporting rescue organizations. Her love for animals also appears in her film work, notably in Susie’s Hope, where she played a woman dedicated to saving injured animals—a role she describes as her personal version of heaven.
Currently based in Los Angeles, Vaugier is also an accomplished equestrian, competing on a rescue horse. When she finishes filming, she looks forward to reuniting with her two rescue dogs, Jack and Bella. She chooses not to bring them to filming locations to avoid long hours in trailers, preferring to keep their comfort in mind.
With her mix of charm, talent, and dedication to meaningful causes, Emmanuelle Vaugier continues to captivate audiences. Whether she’s making them laugh in sitcoms, keeping them on edge in thrillers, or fighting for justice on-screen, her strong-willed roles mirror the determination she brings to her real life.
