Words by Emily Blunt has built one of the most versatile careers in film, moving from sharp comedy to action, horror, musicals and historical drama without ever settling into a single type.
Early life
Blunt was born on Feb. 23, 1983, in London, the second of four children. Her father was a barrister and her mother a former actress and teacher.
As a child she had a significant stammer. A teacher encouraged her to try a play using an accent, and she found that performing helped. She has since worked with the American Institute for Stuttering and spoken often about the experience to encourage young people who stutter.
Stage and early screen work
Blunt began her career on stage, appearing opposite Judi Dench in “The Royal Family” in London’s West End in 2001. She won attention on British television and in the film “My Summer of Love” (2004).
Breakthrough
Her international breakthrough came in “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006), as Emily, the overworked and acid-tongued first assistant to Meryl Streep’s fashion editor. The role earned her a BAFTA nomination and made her a recognizable face around the world.
She won a Golden Globe for the BBC television film “Gideon’s Daughter” (2006) and went on to play Queen Victoria in “The Young Victoria” (2009).
Action and genre roles
Blunt surprised many with her action work. In “Edge of Tomorrow” (2014), opposite Tom Cruise, she played a battle-hardened soldier. In Denis Villeneuve’s “Sicario” (2015) she was an FBI agent pulled into the drug war.
She starred in “The Girl on the Train” (2016) and played the title role in Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns” (2018), singing and dancing in a part long associated with Julie Andrews.
“A Quiet Place”
In 2018 Blunt starred in “A Quiet Place,” a horror film directed by and co-starring her husband, John Krasinski. The story of a family surviving in near-silence became a surprise hit, and Blunt won a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance. “A Quiet Place Part II” followed in 2021.
“Oppenheimer” and later work
In Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” (2023), Blunt played Kitty Oppenheimer, the scientist’s wife. The role earned her a first Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.
She co-starred with Ryan Gosling in “The Fall Guy” (2024) and starred with Dwayne Johnson in “The Smashing Machine” (2025). On television, she led the western series “The English” (2022).
Personal life
Blunt married actor and director John Krasinski in 2010. They have two daughters and have often spoken about keeping family life private despite their profiles. She became a U.S. citizen in 2015.
Her sister Felicity is married to actor Stanley Tucci, who co-starred with Blunt in “The Devil Wears Prada”; the couple met at Blunt’s wedding.
Craft and reputation
Directors frequently praise Blunt’s preparation and her ability to make a scene feel real, whether it calls for fear, comedy or a song. She has said she looks for roles that scare her a little, which may explain why her filmography is so hard to sum up.
Comedy timing
Blunt’s comic gifts are sometimes overshadowed by her dramatic work, but they were what first made audiences notice her. Her deadpan delivery in “Prada” and later in comedies such as “The Five-Year Engagement” and Disney’s “Jungle Cruise,” opposite Dwayne Johnson, showed an actor equally comfortable trading jokes and carrying a story.
Legacy
From the fashion office in “Prada” to the desert of “Sicario” and the farmhouse of “A Quiet Place,” Blunt has shown that range can be its own kind of star power. Her work with stuttering organizations has also made her a role model for young people who once felt the way she did.
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