Actress Jacqueline Emerson, better known to “Hunger Games” devotees as the redheaded sneak Foxface from the film, returned to her native Washington this week for Running Start’s Women to Watch awards dinner. But rubbing elbows with political stars, like fellow guests Gabby Giffords, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, isn’t particularly unusual for Emerson, whose parents both served in the Clinton White House.
“My dad is more popular here than I am,” Emerson said of her father, John Emerson, former deputy assistant to Bill Clinton. Emerson planned to have breakfast at the White House during her week in D.C., but again, no biggie for the high school senior who has already met President Obama.
“In seventh grade, Obama came to my house for a book party, two or three days after he declared he was running for president,” Emerson said. “I missed everything because I was in a final dress rehearsal for my school play.” Her folks made it up to her a few years later. “Mom and Dad took me to meet Obama at the Beverly Hilton,” she said.
After the White House, Emerson plans to hit the books. “I have some homework to do,” the Stanford-bound senior explained.
