If you spent any time on the couch between 2009 and 2020, you know Lily Tucker-Pritchett. She was the tiny, Vietnamese-born infant hoisted into the air by Cam to the tune of The Lion King in the pilot episode. That moment didn't just introduce a baby; it set the stage for one of the most fascinating—and honestly, sometimes awkward—evolutions in sitcom history.
Lily from Modern Family wasn't just a side character. She was the deadpan heart of the Pritchett-Tucker household. While Mitch and Cam were busy having frantic meltdowns over floral arrangements or social slights, Lily was usually in the corner, dropping a truth bomb that made everyone look ridiculous. But as she grew up, the internet had a lot to say. Some people loved her "zero chill" energy. Others? Not so much.
The Mystery of the Two Lilys
A lot of fans forget that we actually had two different versions of Lily. In the first two seasons, Lily was played by twins Ella and Jaden Hiller. They were basically there to look cute and let Cam dress them up like Diana Ross or a giant turkey.
By season three, the show needed a kid who could actually talk and deliver jokes. Enter Aubrey Anderson-Emmons.
Aubrey took over the role in 2011 when she was just four years old. Suddenly, Lily wasn't just a prop. She was a "snark machine." It’s kinda wild to think about, but Aubrey was actually the youngest person ever to win a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of an ensemble. She was a literal kindergartner holding her own against seasoned pros like Ed O’Neill and Julie Bowen.
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Why Some Fans "Hated" Older Lily
It’s a weird phenomenon. If you browse Reddit or old fan forums, you’ll see a massive divide. People loved toddler Lily—the one who told her dads she had "two queens" when playing cards. But as the character hit her teen years, the vibe changed.
The "monotone" delivery became a sticking point.
Critics (who, let's be real, are often too hard on child actors) felt like Aubrey’s acting became robotic. But if you look at the character’s context, it actually makes a lot of sense. Think about her parents. Mitchell is a high-strung, anxious lawyer. Cam is a theatrical, emotionally explosive farm boy. If you grew up in a house that loud and that dramatic, wouldn't you become a stoic, sarcastic teenager just to survive?
Essentially, Lily became the "straight man" to her parents' circus.
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The Writers' Struggle
Honestly, the show didn't always know what to do with her as she got older. While the Dunphy kids had clear arcs—Haley’s rebellion, Alex’s academic pressure, Luke’s... well, being Luke—Lily often felt like a one-liner delivery system. She would walk into a room, say something savage, and walk out.
There were attempts to give her depth. Remember the episode where she joins a Vietnamese dance class to connect with her heritage? Or the later seasons where she develops a love for death metal? Those were great, but they often felt like brief detours rather than a full character evolution.
What Aubrey Anderson-Emmons is Doing in 2026
Aubrey is 18 now. Let that sink in. The "baby" from the show is a legal adult.
She hasn't followed the typical "child star" path of immediately jumping into a dark prestige drama or a massive Marvel movie. Instead, she’s been remarkably vocal about how weird it was to grow up on a soundstage. In recent years, she’s used TikTok and Instagram to share "behind the scenes" truths, including the fact that being a series regular as a toddler is a lot of work that you don't really consent to at four years old.
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She has also undergone a bit of a rebrand.
- Music over Movies: Aubrey (who sometimes goes by Frances Anderson in her musical pursuits) is heavily involved in the indie music scene. She’s a singer and guitarist in a band called October.
- Coming Out: In 2025, Aubrey came out as bisexual. She did it in the most "Lily" way possible—using a viral audio clip from Modern Family where her younger self famously yells, "I'm gay! I'm gay!" It was a full-circle moment that the internet absolutely lived for.
- Real Life Bonds: Despite the "monotone" rumors, she’s still incredibly close with her TV dad, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. They regularly post photos together, proving that the bond was more than just a paycheck.
The Enduring Legacy of Lily Tucker-Pritchett
When you look back at Lily from Modern Family, you realize she represented something huge. She was the face of trans-racial adoption and the child of one of TV’s most famous gay couples at a time when that was still considered "groundbreaking."
She wasn't a perfect character. The writing for her was sometimes inconsistent, and the transition from cute toddler to sarcastic teen is always a bumpy road for a sitcom. But she provided a necessary counter-balance to the Pritchett family chaos.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're planning a rewatch or just want to keep up with the real-life "Lily," here’s what you should do:
- Watch Season 3 Again: It’s arguably the peak of "Sassy Lily." The "Bad Word" episode is a masterclass in child-led comedy.
- Follow Aubrey on Socials: If you want to see her personality outside of the script, her TikTok is actually funny and very self-aware. She’s not "robotic" at all; she just has a very dry sense of humor.
- Check out "FoodMania Review": This was a YouTube series she did with her mom, Amy Anderson. It’s a great look at her real-life relationship and her actual interests beyond the show.
- Listen to her music: If you’re into the indie/rock vibe, her band October is worth a listen. It’s worlds away from the pop music Mitchell and Cam tried to force her to like on the show.
Lily might have started as a baby in a costume, but she ended as a symbol of the "new normal" that Modern Family worked so hard to define. Whether you loved her deadpan delivery or missed the toddler years, there's no denying the show wouldn't have been the same without her.