Emily Rios was born on April 27, 1989, in Los Angeles, California. She is of Mexican descent. Her early life was spent in El Monte, California.
Rios began her acting career in 2005. She was discovered through an open casting call.
Rios is primarily known for her roles in television. She gained significant recognition for her portrayal of Andrea Cantillo in the AMC series Breaking Bad (2011-2013). Prior to Breaking Bad, she starred as Magdalena in the HBO series Big Love (2006-2011). Another notable role includes her performance as Lucia Villanueva in the FX crime drama The Bridge (2013-2014).
More recently, she played the role of Beti in the Starz drama series Vida (2018-2020). Her performance in Vida garnered critical acclaim for its authentic portrayal of queer Latinx identity.