Who Is Jack Atkins From 'The Circle' Season 2, a.k.a. "Emily"?

published 17 April 2021

Twenty-year-old Jack Atkins enters season 2 of The Circle as a catfisher, namely a rosé-drinking blonde sorority girl named Emily. But the reality star could've been equally successful playing as a certain sweet and bumbling actor, Nicholas Braun, also known as Succession's "Cousin Greg." Within moments of the premiere of the Netflix reality show on April 14, viewers were taken aback by Jack's status as a celebrity doppelgänger—from his long brunette locks and tall frame to his unaffected mannerisms.

But Atkins couldn't be further from the 32-year-old Hollywood star (or his lovably dopey on-screen counterpart in the HBO drama). Atkins isn't an actor, but instead an astrophysics and economics student (and proud fraternity bro—Delta Upsilon, according to Instagram) from New Haven, CT. He's a self-declared nerd who isn't afraid to play a cool and cutthroat game (OK, maybe Jack does belong in the Succession world).

"I'm honestly down to go down as the biggest villain in Circle history. I don't really care," the reality show contestant says in his intro. "When it comes to strategy there's no f*cks given. Like morals, get outta here. I don't wanna see ya."

A post shared by Jack Atkins - The Circle (@jackatkins21)
A photo posted by on

You can follow Jack on social @jackatkins21—perhaps he'll reveal there if he gleaned any Circle scheming techniques from the ruthless Roys. And if you're interested in getting to know the "real Emily": She's a close friend of Jack's named Mariel Glass; they both attend the University of Chicago together.

Neha Prakash is Marie Claire's Entertainment Director, where she edits, writes, and ideates culture and current event features with a focus on elevating diverse voices and stories in film and television. She steers and books the brand's print and digital covers as well as oversees the talent and production on MC's video franchises like "How Well Do You Know Your Co-Star?" and flagship events, including the Power Play summit. Since joining the team in early 2020, she's produced entertainment packages about buzzy television shows and films, helped oversee culture SEO content, commissioned op-eds from notable writers, and penned widely-shared celebrity profiles and interviews. She also assists with social coverage around major red carpet events, having conducted celebrity interviews at the Met Gala, Oscars, and Golden Globes. Prior to Marie Claire, she held editor roles at Brides, Glamour, Mashable, and Condé Nast, where she launched the Social News Desk. Her pop culture, breaking news, and fashion coverage has appeared on Vanity Fair, GQ, Allure, Teen Vogue, and Architectural Digest. She earned a masters degree from the Columbia School of Journalism in 2012 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Pennsylvania State University in 2010. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and dog, Ghost; she loves matcha lattes, Bollywood movies, and has many hot takes about TV reboots. Follow her on Instagram @nehapk.