Willa Milner, aged 35, is a Canadian actress, voice actor, indie pop artist, and Grammy-nominated songwriter who has built one of the most varied careers in Canadian entertainment. Born Ali Willa Milner in Toronto, she is known to screen audiences for her role as Liz in the 2014 MGM drama If I Stay and to animation fans as Princess Ember in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. As of 2026, she serves as Music and Voice Director at Grayson Music in Toronto, with an estimated net worth in the range of $1 million to $5 million.
TL;DR
- Willa Milner, Canadian actress and singer-songwriter, is best known for If I Stay (2014) and voicing Princess Ember in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.
- Active as a recording artist under the stage name Willa since 2015; debut album Criminals + Dreamers released in 2016.
- Professional musician since age 14; first Grammy nomination received in 2023 for co-writing Slow Song by The Knocks and Dragonette.
- Estimated net worth: $1 million to $5 million as of 2026.
- Currently Music and Voice Director at Grayson Music, Toronto; multi-Juno Award winning songwriter.
Quick Bio
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ali Willa Milner |
| Known As | Willa Milner / Willa (stage name) |
| Date of Birth | May 30, 1990 |
| Age | 35 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Toronto, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Education | Berklee College of Music, Boston |
| Profession | Actress, Singer-Songwriter, Voice Actor, Music and Voice Director |
| Active Since | 2004 (music); 2013 (acting) |
| Platforms / Outlets | Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, Spotify |
| Total Following | Approx. 3,300+ on X; Instagram and TikTok not publicly confirmed |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Relationship Status | Not publicly disclosed |
| Net Worth | $1 million to $5 million (estimated) |
Who is Willa Milner?
Willa Milner is a Canadian actress, voice actor, singer-songwriter, and music industry director best known for her role as Liz in the 2014 MGM drama If I Stay and for voicing Princess Ember in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.
Born in Toronto and raised in Whistler, British Columbia, Milner began her professional music career at the age of 14, releasing a self-titled debut album before she had finished school. She simultaneously pursued acting, appearing in television productions including Supernatural, When Calls the Heart, Falling Skies, Dark Matter, and Lost and Found Music Studios. Her 2014 feature film debut opposite Chloe Grace Moretz in If I Stay drew wide attention to her on-screen abilities.
By 2015 she had rebranded her music persona to Willa and shifted toward a densely layered electronic pop sound. Her 2016 debut album under that name, Criminals + Dreamers, showcased her vocal range and songwriting depth. Milner later earned a Grammy nomination in 2023 as a co-writer on Slow Song by The Knocks and Dragonette. She now leads music and voice direction at Grayson Music in Toronto, working across advertising, film, and television.
Early Life and Background
Childhood and Family
Willa Milner was born on May 30, 1990, in Toronto, Canada, and grew up in Whistler, British Columbia, a mountain resort town that shaped her independent artistic sensibility.
Whistler provided a setting far removed from the entertainment industry, yet Milner gravitated toward music from a young age. She has a brother named Smith, whom she has publicly acknowledged. Her parents supported her creative ambitions, allowing her to release her first album at 14 and later pursue an acting career from Vancouver. The family’s backing proved foundational to her early productivity as both a musician and performer.
Education
Willa Milner studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, one of North America’s most respected popular music institutions, where she developed advanced skills in songwriting, lyric craft, and melody construction.
Before Berklee, Milner was a lead voice in the Vancouver Children’s Choir. She began taking piano lessons at age 13 in Whistler. Berklee sharpened her commercial instincts and introduced her to the collaborative writing room environment she would later use as a professional songwriter for other artists.
Career Journey
Before Fame
Milner began her professional music career around 2004, releasing a self-titled album at age 14 and following it with the sophomore record I Dare You in 2009, establishing her early as a working Canadian musician.
During this formative period she drew on jazz influences alongside classic pop vocalists including Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, and Dolly Parton. She also became a soloist with the Vancouver Children’s Choir. Her early recordings leaned toward acoustic and singer-songwriter territory before her sound shifted considerably in the years that followed.
How Willa Milner Got Started in Acting
After years as a recording artist, Milner decided to pursue acting in 2013, a transition she described as something she had always wanted to do but had delayed.
Her first major screen credit came quickly: she was cast as Liz in the 2014 MGM drama If I Stay, directed by R.J. Cutler and starring Chloe Grace Moretz. The role put her alongside Jamie Blackley and required her to portray a close friend inside a deeply emotional narrative. Prior to the feature, she had also appeared as herself on the CBC series Cover Me Canada, where her existing music career gave her a natural entry point to broadcast television.
Breakthrough Moment
Milner’s breakthrough in voice acting came when she was cast as Princess Ember in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, a role that significantly expanded her recognition beyond the film and music audiences she had previously reached.
The role, credited under her legal name Ali Milner, introduced her to one of animation’s most active fanbases. She was invited as a Guest of Honor to Ponyville Ciderfest 2018 in Milwaukee, where she performed live and participated in multiple panel and autograph sessions. By this point she was also the confirmed brand voice for national and international advertising campaigns, including Plenty of Fish and Coffeemate. Her acting credits across this period also included Supernatural (Season 10, Episode 13, 2015), Dark Matter (2015), and a recurring role in Lost and Found Music Studios as Parker.
Career Today
As of 2026, Willa Milner holds the title of Music and Voice Director at Grayson Music, a Toronto-based creative audio agency operating across advertising, film, television, and experiential content.
At Grayson she oversees music supervision, voice casting, and commercial directing, applying her combined background as a performer and songwriter to guide the sonic identity of major brand campaigns. Her clients have included Rogers, Chevrolet, McCafe, Canadian Tire, Nissan, BMO, AMEX, and OLG. She served as a jury member for the Gerety Awards in 2024, one of advertising’s international creative award shows. Milner continues to release music under the Willa name, with her 2026 EP Deadbeats promoted via her X account and Linktree.
Grammy-Nominated Canadian Songwriter
Willa Milner received her first Grammy nomination in 2023 as a co-writer on Slow Song by The Knocks and Dragonette, nominated for Best Remixed Recording at the 65th Grammy Awards.
The nomination was confirmed by Grayson Music on LinkedIn, where a photo of Milner holding her Grammy Nomination Certificate was shared publicly. She has also been recognised with multiple Juno Awards as a songwriter, Canada’s equivalent of the Grammy. Her writing credits span artists including Ryan Guldemond of Mother Mother, John Nathaniel of OneRepublic, Babyface, The Knocks, Now United, and Grae. She attended a songwriting workshop in Nicaragua alongside leading North American pop writers and was personally mentored by Babyface, the 13-time Grammy-winning producer.
Career and Platform Presence
As a recording artist under the Willa name, Milner specialises in atmospheric electronic indie pop with layered production, emotionally direct lyrics, and a sound built on close collaboration with producers and co-writers.
Her 2016 album Criminals + Dreamers received praise for its structural complexity, with tracks like Swan building progressively rather than following standard verse-chorus formulas. The album’s eight songs addressed themes of independence, romantic tension, and resilience. Her debut Willa single was Stay the Night in 2015. She has also released a cover of The Cardigans’ Lovefool that attracted attention at convention appearances, and her 2026 EP Deadbeats marks her return to independent music output after several years focused on commercial and songwriting work.
Social Media Presence
| Platform | Followers / Subscribers | Content Type |
|---|---|---|
| X (Twitter) | 3,354 | Music releases, industry updates, personal posts |
| Not publicly confirmed | Photos, career moments, personal life | |
| TikTok | Not publicly confirmed | Short-form music and lifestyle content |
| YouTube | Not publicly confirmed | Music videos, covers, live performances |
| Approx. 1,000 | Professional updates, Grayson Music work |
Net Worth and Income Streams
Willa Milner’s estimated net worth ranges from $1 million to $5 million as of 2026, built across four distinct income streams: acting, voice acting, recording and songwriting, and commercial music direction.
The $5 million figure cited by some aggregator sites is not confirmed by multiple credible sources; the conservative range better reflects what is publicly verifiable. Her advertising voice work spans over a dozen major Canadian and international brands, representing a consistent commercial income stream separate from her entertainment work. Songwriting royalties from co-written tracks recorded by artists including The Knocks and Now United provide additional passive income. As a multi-Juno Award winning songwriter, she also holds catalogue value from her earlier Canadian music releases.
| Income Stream | Estimated Contribution | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Music and Voice Direction (Grayson) | Primary income | Director-level role at a major Toronto audio agency |
| Advertising Voice Acting | Significant | Rogers, Chevrolet, Nissan, BMO, AMEX, OLG, and others |
| Songwriting Royalties | Supplementary | Grammy-nominated co-write; credits with The Knocks, Now United, Grae and others |
| Film and TV Acting | Historical; ongoing | If I Stay, My Little Pony, Supernatural, Dark Matter |
| Independent Music Releases | Supplementary | Criminals + Dreamers (2016); Deadbeats EP (2026) |
Physical Appearance
Height and Body Stats
Willa Milner stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and has brown hair and blue eyes, a look she has maintained consistently across her on-screen and public appearances.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Eye Colour | Blue |
| Hair Colour | Brown |
Personal Life
Relationships
Willa Milner has not made her relationship status publicly known in any confirmed interview or official statement as of 2026.
No relationship details have been confirmed in any named publication or credible source. No further detail is publicly available.
Family
Milner grew up in Whistler, British Columbia, and has publicly acknowledged a brother named Smith.
She has credited her family’s support as a key factor in her early music career, which began when she was 14 years old. Her mother was reportedly pleased when Milner received her Grammy Nomination Certificate, with a post on Grayson Music’s LinkedIn noting her mother’s reaction. No further family details have been publicly confirmed.
Achievements and Milestones
- Released her self-titled debut album at age 14, followed by I Dare You in 2009.
- Lead voice soloist with the Vancouver Children’s Choir.
- Cast as Liz in MGM’s If I Stay (2014), her feature film debut alongside Chloe Grace Moretz.
- Booked the recurring role of Princess Ember in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, one of animation’s most popular franchises of the 2010s.
- Released debut album Criminals + Dreamers under the Willa stage name in 2016.
- Studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
- Nominated for a Grammy Award in 2023 as co-writer of Slow Song by The Knocks and Dragonette (Best Remixed Recording, 65th Grammy Awards).
- Multi-Juno Award winning songwriter with credits across Canadian and international acts.
- Appointed Music and Voice Director at Grayson Music; served on the 2024 Gerety Awards jury.
- Released the Deadbeats EP in 2026, continuing her independent music output.
Interesting Facts About Willa Milner
- Her full legal first name is Ali; Willa is her middle name, adopted as both a stage name and her professional music identity.
- She was mentored by Babyface, the 13-time Grammy-winning producer, during a songwriting workshop in 2018.
- Her favourite music genre is reportedly R and B hip-hop, and her favourite instrument is the bass guitar.
- She attended a pop songwriting workshop in Nicaragua alongside some of North America’s top commercial writers.
- Her advertising voice credits include campaigns for Rogers, Nissan, AMEX, OLG, and Coffeemate, among more than a dozen national and international brands.
- She appeared as herself on the CBC competition series Cover Me Canada, one of the few entertainers to appear on Canadian public television as themselves while simultaneously pursuing a separate acting career.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Willa Milner known for?
Willa Milner is known for playing Liz in the 2014 film If I Stay, voicing Princess Ember in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, and as a Grammy-nominated songwriter and Music and Voice Director at Grayson Music.
How old is Willa Milner?
Willa Milner was born on May 30, 1990, making her 35 years old as of 2026.
What is Willa Milner’s real name?
Her full legal name is Ali Willa Milner. She uses Ali Milner for acting credits and Willa as her music stage name.
Was Willa Milner nominated for a Grammy?
Yes. She received a Grammy nomination in 2023 as a co-writer on Slow Song by The Knocks and Dragonette, nominated for Best Remixed Recording at the 65th Grammy Awards.
Where is Willa Milner from?
She was born in Toronto, Canada, and raised in Whistler, British Columbia. She is now based in Toronto, where she works at Grayson Music.
