After starting her acting career on stage in London, she became known for her works in numerous films and Broadway productions.

Emma Dunn appeared onstage in her early teens, graduating to the London stage for several years and later became a noted Broadway actress.

She appeared in three productions for theatre impresario David Belasco: The Warrens of Virginia (1907), The Easiest Way (1909) and The Governor's Lady (1912).

One more silent film followed in 1924, Pied Piper Malone, and then she made her sound debut in Side Street, co-starring the Moore brothers, Matt, Owen and Tom as her sons.

[13] After suffering a heart attack some months before, Dunn died 14 December 1966 in Los Angeles, California, aged 91.