Emily Blunt in “The Five-Year Engagament”
Before “The Devil Wears Prada,” London-born actress Emily Blunt was doing the normal thing – working her way up. In her case, it was for British TV in miniseries and stage dramas like “Henry VIII,” “Poirot,” and “Empire.” But once “The Devil Wears Prada” was released in summer 2006, audiences and critics alike wanted to know who was Meryl Streep’s personal assistant, the scene-stealer who even upped Stanley Tucci’s gay fashion director. Emily was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in 2007, as well as for her role in the TV movie “Gideon’s Daughter,” for which she won. Meryl Streep hailed her as one of the best young actresses of her generation.
“The Devil Wears Prada” was the launching pad for Emily, who was 23 when the film was released. 2007 was her liftoff year, appearing in the ensemble drama “The Jane Austen Book Club,” the psychological thriller “Wind Chill,” Steve Carell’s comedy “Dan in Real Life,” and the Mike Nichols dramedy “Charlie Wilson’s War.” Her first film of 2008, “Sunshine Cleaning,” was hailed as one of the best films at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. She also appeared in another film at this year’s festival, the Tom Hanks-produced “The Great Buck Howard.”
Emily’s impressive resume of supporting roles is not just giving her a steady paycheck, but growing recognition as a rising actress with plenty of talent. With a low-key profile, Emily is one who lets her on-screen presence speak for itself. By the end of the decade, chances are Emily’s name will be among the likes of, say, Katherine Heigl, or even Scarlett Johansson.
In 2021, Emily starred in “A Quiet Place Part II.”
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Emily on the Web
Time Out New York Interview
Emily on being a Brit, convincing accents, cooking, and over-the-top acting.
Emily Blunt: An Englishwoman in New York
As she joins her husband John Krasinski for the second chapter of “A Quiet Place,” Emily talks to Jane Mulkerrins about trusting her instincts and loving life in Brooklyn.
Emily on Screen
She plays Emily in “The Devil Wears Prada” in 2006, as well as alongside Susan Sarandon and Sam Neill in “Irresistible” the same year. She’s Prudie Drummond in “The Jane Austen Book Club,” Dr. Ruthie Draper in “Dan in Real Life,” and Jane Liddle in “Charlie Wilson’s War.” More recently, the actress appeared in Joe Johnston’s “The Wolfman,” “The Adjustment Bureau” with Matt Damon, the comedies “The Five-Year Engagement” and “The Muppets,” and the sci-fi film “Looper.”
Emily scored a horror hit with “A Quiet Place.”
Emily Says
On lunch with Ethan Hawke:
“I had a meeting with Ethan Hawke once, and I left and realized I had hummus on the side of my mouth. There I was talking animatedly about how much I liked his script and to think he didn’t tell me!”
On her character Prudie from “Jane Austen’s Book Club”:
“I related to her more than anyone I’ve played.”