Emily Prentiss is the daughter of diplomat Elizabeth Prentiss, an occupation that caused the family to move frequently. For a large part of her childhood, the family lived in the Middle East, which is why Emily is also fluent in Arabic. Later the family moved to Rome.

This frequent change of location was very difficult for the young Emily because she was constantly torn from their surroundings and friendships. She had never felt like she belonged anywhere, knowing that the current visit would be of limited duration.

At the age of 15, Emily was pregnant in Rome, and a friend helped her find a doctor who would perform an abortion. Besides Arabic, Emily Prentiss also speaks fluent Italian and Spanish and a little Russian.

After her stay in Italy, the family moved to the U.S., where Emily graduated from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Shortly before graduation, she got to know Aaron Hotchner, who was working for her mother at that time. Following her studies at Yale, Emily Prentiss was thirteen years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), mainly in north-western U.S.

After Elle Greenawayhad handed her gun and her badge to Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner and quit, Emily Prentiss (played by Paget Brewster) joined the profiler team of the Behavioural Analysis Unit (BAU) in the series Criminal Minds.

First, however, he had denied Emily’s transfer request, fearing that this would only be due to the good relations of her daughter in the BAU. This refusal was not communicated to her, so she just showed up one day at the headquarters of the BAU to start her work.

Aaron Hotchner and Jason Gideon are naturally very surprised at first. After Agent Prentiss had stated that her mother had nothing to do with her transfer, the two profilers agree to take her on the team.

Neither of the investigators know that Prentiss was hired by their superior, Erin Strauss. Since Strauss is concerned that Aaron Hotchner has it in for her job, Agent Prentiss will collect incriminating evidence against Hotch.

Emily Prentiss initially agreed, but then changed her mind. Instead, she spoke with Aaron Hotchner, and then announced her appointment. Penelope Garcia held the dismissal until both Hotchner and Prentiss once again had the opportunity to reconsider their positions and change their minds.

You may find all episodes of the series Criminal Minds here.