This interview with Emily Blunt is published in the number 37 of Vanity Fair on newsstands until 9 September 2025.
When someone like Emily Blunt It offers you a lifestyle, you have to accept it: “He will see, when he arrives at 40 he will be a liberation: he will no longer care about many things,” he begins, sharing a pearl of wisdom of his nanny, Tina (who never says bad words). Blunt Ride: «And it’s true! It happens almost from one day to the next. You find yourself thinking: but who cares? ».
If there is someone who has perfected the art of cheating it while living to the maximum, that is exactly Emily Blunt. At 42, The actress built a career that ranges from iconic comedies to breathtaking thrillers Thanks to its particular charm, to a sense of sharp humor and an enviable self -awareness. Faithful to itself, is happily absent from social media, A silent declaration of the fact that prefers to live life rather than expanding it to the internet showcase.
The evening of our call, Blunt connects exactly at 10.30 pm, Hong Kong’s time. Pure British punctuality. “Hi, Kaitlyn, how are you?”, Greets me with a smile, the crystalline and magnetic voice, as expected from a woman capable of transforming even a pungent joke into cinematographic gold – think of Emily Charlton and its cutting criticism of the gray spinning skirts of Andy Sachs in the Devil wears Prada.
Honestly, if Blunt asked me to participate in a conference on horrendous skirts, I would do it. Almost two decades after covering The coveted role of assistant of Miranda Priestly in the iconic fashion film, Emily Charlton has finally obtained the most important one: the best character that the mother has ever played, according to the Board of Directors of the Blunt house, that is, her daughters. “My girls think that in Devil wears Prada I am the most bad person in the world, and it’s true », he laughs. «They told me that their friends all talked about it, and that point I realized that they were now big enough to understand it. It was really nice to show him. “
Emily Blunt is the type of actress whose name evokes a rundown of iconic roles: from the chopper nanny of the Return of Mary Poppins to the indoorly resilient mother of A Quiet Place – a quiet placeup to the rebellious but devoted wife of Oppenheimer. Her versatility is not only impressive: that’s why you never know what to expect from her, but you are always happy to see her on the screen. This chameleonic capacity to interpret very different characters derives from its willingness to embrace the complexities and contradictions that derive from human being, a quality that brings in every role with great frankness: “I like the characters who live some form of inner conflict, because I think that, as human beings, we are perpetually in war with ourselves”, explains Blunt. «So, I don’t care very much to interpret someone who already has all the answers or who appears perfectly composed. Likewise, I am not interested in invincible or heroic characters. I think the best heroes are those who face situations with nails and teeth ». It is precisely this fascination for roles so nuanced to make Blunt’s interpretations deeply human, because, after all, within each of us there is always something difficult to decipher.
Next October, Blunt will still make talk about himself for his test in The Smashing Machinepresented at the Venice Festival 2025, in which he plays Dawn Staples, the ex -wife of the wrestler Mark Kerr. The film, a biographical sports drama directed by Benny Safdie, explores not only the brutal nature of the MMA, the mixed martial arts, but also the raw emotions and without filters that are hidden behind the scenes. It tells what it means to fight, not only in the ring, but also for the people you love.
For Blunt, playing Dawn was a lesson on the real meaning of putting himself in the role of another person. “They (Mark and Dawn) had the entire emotional spectrum of a relationship,” he says. «I had to approach my character with great empathy. I had to be his lawyer. Dawn Staples is still alive and I have become attached to her. He is an incredible person and I wanted to help her, even if he had done many things that he was penalty. Approaching me with empathy, even when she was fierce and destroyed, was the thin thread to follow ».
The actress spent hours on the phone with Dawn, asking her questions, listening to her stories and immersing herself in the documentary movies of their lives. “I am so grateful to her because she was so open, aware and honest about what had happened,” says Blunt. «I had never had this gift before, the gift of interpreting someone who is still among us and who has shown himself as helpful and generous as Dawn was with me. I believe that, in a sense, the film is a sort of Trojan horse, disguised as a film about the MMA, which is actually only the background: The Smashing Machine It speaks of struggle and when you see the struggle beyond the image of the man with the punch raised is truly illuminating », he continues. Kerr, in particular, described his experience in Blunt as something primordial and animalized: “He felt the smell of their sweat, of what they had eaten for breakfast, even iron in their blood”, says Blunt with a mixture of amazement and restlessness. Yet, in clear contrast with his ferocity in the ring, Kerr is a peaceful, eloquent and always kind man.
«Mark also put his soul bare in front of all of us. From him and Dawn we managed to collect authentic information, real moments, regrets, real pain and love », reflects the actress with gratitude. «Showing them the film was unnerving for all of us. They were shaken, and later we were so grateful because they felt understood and represented in all the ups and downs of their story. At that moment we really breathed a sigh of relief. It is stressful to show someone your own version of themselves ».
The film also marks the reunion of Blunt and his longtime friend and co-protagonist, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The two had already shared the set in Jungle Cruisebut turn The Smashing Machine has requested a completely new level of trust. “DJ and I had to create a relationship that was at the same time conflicting and full of love, connection and intimacy,” explains Blunt. «The beauty of this experience was to work with my friend, of whom I trust a lot and who reciprocates this trust. This allowed the scenes to go beyond what I thought could be. When there is confidence, there is also the courage to show themselves vulnerable, and we both needed them to interpret these roles. “
And according to Blunt it is precisely that courage – and the willingness to show itself vulnerable – which defines a real great actor. “You must be willing to be afraid,” he says. “There is often that feeling, before starting something, like looking at the waves and thinking that they are really huge and that you will never make it to swim them.”
The actress remembers having had this conversation with Johnson before the start of filming. «I remember having talked about it with Dwayne, because he had never done anything like this before: disappearing totally, completely putting himself bare, interpreting someone who faces many traumas and difficulties. I told him: “I know you feel overwhelmed at the idea of ​​swimming among those waves, but you will do it. You will just do it. There is something in the current that carries on you. The current of the experience drags you, and you just have to let yourself go”, he says.
“I think this is the key to acting. You have to love her deeply ». They say that the more you love something, the more this asks you for something in return. And Blunt knows it well. «If you decide to enter this world, make sure you know it’s hard work. Many say they don’t take it on the staff. But this sector is very personal. Often you are judged for your point of view or for your appearance. So, I would say: put the helmet. Make sure to persevere, even if you take it on the staff. Be honest with yourself and ask yourself if you really have what you need ».
And of course he adds: «You never arrive late. Never. I learned this from Judi Dench, to my first theatrical show, “specifies.
It is clear that Blunt does not flee from uncomfortable truths, And the same honesty emerges when I ask her about the vintage cello that gave them Her husband, John Krasinski. For a moment he lights up, then exclaims: «It is still a source of guilt for me! I am so reluctant to play it for pride. I just have to do it. That poor cello is there that takes dust », confesses with irony and a veil of frustration. «I have to change approach, because as a child she had become a duty. He had stopped giving me joy. He had become something I was good, but that I didn’t love. “
He stops to reflect, then he continues: «I think there is a big difference between the things you are good and those you love deeply. If you have creativity and passion for something, you will be great. Not only good, but big. And I thought I was good. I never thought I was great ».
Now, at 42, Blunt is ready to take the cello with a more joyful spirit in hand. “I think it would be really nice to have a hidden talent,” he admits. “My daughter said that next year she wants to learn to play the cello, so maybe that could prove to be the motivation I need to start again.”
When I ask them if he has ambitions outside of cinema, he jokes: “In addition to resuming studying and becoming the largest celloist in the world?”. Burst out laughing. «Images: unique evening with Emily Blunt in Hong Kong. Will perform the Concert for cello by Elgar ». Smiles. “Maybe that’s precisely this.”
Photo Domen & Van de Velde
FAshion Direction Dena Giannini
Have collaborated Abby McDade and Jake Held
Make-up Jenn Streticher
Hair Orlando Pita
Manicure Julie KandaLec@Star Touch Agency
Tailor Macy Idzakovich
Set design Cece Kirksey
Producer Alexey Galetskiy
Production Alexandra Strasburg and Ernest Klimko
Casting Jill Demling and Maddie Kelly@Creative Casting Agency
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Source: Vanity Fair
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
