Emily Blunt Bio
Emily Olivia Laura Blunt (born 23 February 1983) is a British actress. The recipient of several accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award and four British Academy Film Awards, Forbes ranked her as one of the highest-paid actresses in the world in 2020. Blunt made her acting debut in a 2001 stage production of The Royal Family and portrayed Catherine Howard in the television miniseries Henry VIII (2003). She made her feature film debut in the drama My Summer of Love (2004). Blunt’s breakthrough came in 2006 with her starring roles in the television film Gideon’s Daughter and the comedy film The Devil Wears Prada. The former won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her profile continued to grow with leading roles in The Young Victoria (2009), Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011), The Adjustment Bureau (2011), Looper (2012), Edge of Tomorrow (2014), and Into the Woods (2014).
Early Life and Background
Emily Olivia Laura Blunt was born in London on 23 February 1983. She is the second of four children, born to a former actress and English teacher, Joanna Mackie, and a barrister, Oliver Blunt KC. Her mother gave up acting to parent full time before Blunt started school. Blunt described herself as a shy and awkward child, who began having difficulties with stuttering, a condition she described as debilitating. She experienced it at its worst between the ages of seven and 14. Intimidated by speaking, she spent much time watching people, as well as creating elaborate games for herself and playing the cello. She credits a school teacher with encouraging her to perform in class plays, where using voices different from her own allowed her to disconnect from herself and speak fluently. It also gave her the confidence to continue on the stage and discover her love of acting. She attended Hurtwood House, a sixth-form boarding school in Surrey, known for its performing arts programme. After appearing in a school play at the Edinburgh Festival, Blunt was discovered and signed by an agent. Once she finished her school exams, she began auditioning.
Path to Hollywood
In November 2001, Blunt made her professional acting debut at age 18 in Peter Hall’s West End production of the play The Royal Family, in which she played the granddaughter of Judi Dench’s character. For her performance, Blunt was named “Best Newcomer” by the Evening Standard. The following year, she portrayed Eugenie in Nicholas Wright’s play Vincent in Brixton at the National Theatre, and Juliet in Indhu Rubasingham’s production of Romeo and Juliet at Chichester Festival Theatre. In 2003, Blunt made her screen debut in the British television drama Boudica, about the life of the ancient Celtic warrior-queen who fought the Romans. That same year, she was praised for her performance as the 16th-century Queen Catherine Howard in the two-part British television drama Henry VIII. In 2004, Blunt made her theatrical film debut in Paweł Pawlikowski’s critically acclaimed independent British drama My Summer of Love, about an infatuation between two young women from different socioeconomic backgrounds in the English countryside. Co-starring as Tamsin, she received considerable attention for her performance, garnering critical praise.
Emily Blunt Career
Early Career (2001–2004)
Blunt’s international breakthrough came in 2006. She co-starred as the troubled only child of a New Labour spin doctor in the British television drama film Gideon’s Daughter, and played Emily Charlton, the senior assistant of fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly in the comedy-drama film The Devil Wears Prada. The Devil Wears Prada was a commercial success, grossing $326 million. Blunt’s performance was deemed a standout, with Clifford Pugh of the Houston Chronicle asserting that “[Blunt] has many of the film’s best lines and steals nearly every scene she’s in.” Blunt won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Gideon’s Daughter, and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Devil Wears Prada. She also received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the latter. At the 79th Academy Awards, she and co-star Anne Hathaway co-presented the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, with both acting as their characters from the film. Blunt also appeared in the independent mystery drama Irresistible (2006).
Breakthrough (2005–2010)
Blunt’s profile continued to rise, and in 2007, she appeared in four films: the horror film Wind Chill, the romantic drama The Jane Austen Book Club, the comedy-drama Dan in Real Life, and the biographical comedy-drama Charlie Wilson’s War. In 2008, Blunt appeared in Sunshine Cleaning in the role of Norah Lorkowski, an underachiever who starts a crime-scene clean-up business with her sister Rose. The film premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive reviews, particularly for Adams’ and Blunt’s performances. In 2009, Blunt portrayed Queen Victoria in the independent period drama The Young Victoria, directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. Blunt’s performance earned critical accolades, and she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. That same year, Blunt received the BAFTA Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year.
Notable Works and Milestones
In 2015, Blunt starred in the crime thriller Sicario, directed by Denis Villeneuve. Blunt played Kate Macer, a principled FBI agent assigned to take down the leader of a powerful Mexican drug cartel. The film was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim. Blunt received considerable praise for her performance. In 2016, Blunt co-starred in The Huntsman: Winter’s War, which serves as both a prequel and sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman. Blunt then headlined the mystery thriller The Girl on the Train, directed by Tate Taylor. Blunt’s performance earned considerable praise, and she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role. In 2018, Blunt starred in her husband John Krasinski’s horror film A Quiet Place, which follows a family being tormented by monstrous creatures that hunt by sound. The film received critical acclaim and was a commercial success. Blunt played the title character in Rob Marshall’s musical fantasy film Mary Poppins Returns, which served as a sequel to the 1964 film. She received two SAG nominations for her performances in A Quiet Place and Mary Poppins Returns, winning Best Supporting Actress for A Quiet Place.
Emily Blunt Award Nominations
Emily Blunt has received multiple nominations throughout her career, including nominations for an Academy Award, Golden Globe Awards, BAFTA Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards, showcasing her talent and versatility as an actress.
Emily Blunt Awards Won
Emily Blunt has won several prestigious awards, including a Golden Globe Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, highlighting her exceptional performances in film and television.
Emily Blunt Family
Emily Blunt is married to American actor John Krasinski, whom she began dating in November 2008. They became engaged in August 2009 and married in July 2010. The couple has two daughters, born in 2014 and 2016. In 2012, Blunt became the sister-in-law of actor Stanley Tucci when he married her sister Felicity.
Personal Life
Emily Blunt was in a relationship with Canadian singer Michael Bublé from 2005 to 2008. In 2015, Blunt became an American citizen through naturalisation, making her a dual citizen of the UK and US.
