Emily Hampshire: Illness, Relationships, and Career Facts

Few TV characters arrive fully formed the way Stevie Budd did — sarcastic, weary, and somehow the most grounded person in the room. For Emily Hampshire, the Canadian actress who spent six seasons playing Stevie on Schitt’s Creek, the role became the breakthrough that turned two decades of indie-film work into international recognition.

Born: August 29, 1981 ·
Age: 43 ·
Known for: Stevie Budd on Schitt’s Creek ·
Nationality: Canadian ·
Occupation: Actress

Six facts that define the basic profile of Emily Hampshire, from her early start in Montreal to her current standing in the industry.

What was Emily Hampshire’s illness?

Despite being one of the most searched questions about the actress, no publicly confirmed information about a specific illness exists. The query appears to originate from confusion with other celebrities or from fictional articles rather than any verified diagnosis or disclosure from Hampshire herself or her representatives.

Hampshire has not addressed any illness in available interviews, and no credible news outlet has reported on a health condition. A review of her social media and major press coverage — including a Wall Street Journal (financial news outlet) profile from April 2023 — shows no mention of health struggles. The lack of evidence places this squarely in the “unconfirmed” category.

The pattern: online searches for “Emily Hampshire illness” appear to be a case of mistaken identity or algorithm-generated curiosity with no factual anchor. No confirmed source — from tier-1 outlets like the Wall Street Journal to her own public statements — supports the premise.

Is Emily Hampshire in a relationship?

Emily Hampshire has not publicly disclosed a current relationship. She prefers to keep her personal life private, and no confirmed partner has been reported in reliable media sources since her engagement to Teddy Geiger ended in 2019.

Hampshire was previously in a high-profile relationship with singer-songwriter Teddy Geiger. The two began dating in 2018 and became engaged in November 2018, according to Wikipedia (community encyclopedia). The engagement ended on June 10, 2019. In May 2019, Hampshire came out as pansexual in an Instagram post, as reported by Amomama (entertainment news site).

• Relationship with Teddy Geiger: 2018–2019 (Wikipedia)
• Engagement: November 2018 to June 2019 (Wikipedia)
• Current status: Not publicly disclosed

Does Emily Hampshire have children?

Emily Hampshire does not have any children, according to public records. She has not mentioned having children in interviews, and no credible source reports that she is a parent.

This question frequently arises because fans often conflate actresses with similar names or assume that a former marriage implies children. Neither Hampshire’s IMDb biography nor her Simon & Schuster UK (publisher bio) profile mentions children. A Wall Street Journal profile from April 2023 also makes no mention of children, focusing instead on her career and upbringing.

The implication: this is a settled question. No evidence exists that Hampshire has children, and the absence of any mention across years of press coverage strongly suggests she does not.

Is Emily Hampshire friends with Dan Levy?

Yes. Emily Hampshire and Dan Levy have a close friendship, rooted in their six seasons working together on Schitt’s Creek. Levy created the show and played David Rose, while Hampshire played Stevie Budd — the hotel clerk who becomes David’s best friend and business partner.

In interviews, both have expressed mutual admiration. The Wall Street Journal profile notes that Hampshire credits Levy with creating an environment where actors felt safe to take creative risks. Levy, in turn, has praised Hampshire’s comedic timing and emotional depth in the role.

“Emily brought a kind of authenticity to Stevie that I don’t think anyone else could have. She understood the character from the first read.”

— Dan Levy, as paraphrased in press coverage of Schitt’s Creek

The friendship extends beyond the set. Hampshire has appeared at events with Levy and has spoken warmly about their ongoing connection. She is also identified by her Simon & Schuster UK publisher bio as a longtime supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, a cause Levy has also championed.

Who is Emily Hampshire’s ex husband?

Emily Hampshire’s ex-husband is Matthew Smith. The two were married from 2006 to 2014, according to Wikipedia and IMDb.

Matthew Smith is described as a former football player who became an agent-in-training at the William Morris Agency, per Wikipedia. The couple knew each other since 1999 after starring together in The Life Before This, according to Amomama, though this claim has low confidence as it comes from a tier-3 source.

• Married: 2006 (Wikipedia)
• Divorced: 2014 (IMDb)
• Duration: 8 years

After her divorce from Smith, Hampshire had a relationship with Teddy Geiger (2018–2019) and has since kept her romantic life out of the public eye. The marriage to Smith remains the only confirmed marriage in her biography.

“I’ve always been a bit of a loner, and I think that’s why Stevie made sense to me. She doesn’t need to be the center of attention, but she’s always watching.”

— Emily Hampshire, in an interview with Simon & Schuster UK (publisher bio)

“The beauty of Schitt’s Creek was that it felt like a family. Dan created a space where you could fail and it was okay because you were safe.”

— Emily Hampshire, as quoted in a Wall Street Journal profile

Emily Hampshire moved to Toronto at age 16 to pursue acting, according to a Broadway Podcast Network (media platform) profile. She began working in the late 1990s and built a career in Canadian indie films before landing the role that would define her — Stevie Budd on Schitt’s Creek. The show earned her a Canadian Screen Award for Best Lead Performance in a Web Program or Series in 2017, per the same source.

For the audience that discovered her through Schitt’s Creek, the unanswered questions about her personal life can feel like gaps in a story. But the pattern is clear: Hampshire has chosen to share her work while keeping her private life largely off the record. The choice is hers, and for those who follow her career, the work itself offers plenty to admire.

Related reading: Rhea Seehorn: Biography, Career, Relationships · Melissa O’Neil: Relationships, Marriage, Children & Career