Biography

Emily Olivia Blunt was born on February 23 1983, in Roehampton, South West London. She attended school at Ibstock Place and Hurtwood House boarding school in Roehampton. Blunt discovered her talent for acting at an early age, during a school production. Since she was eight years old Emily had suffered with a stammer, it was only when her teacher asked her to play a character with a Northern accent that Emily was able to overcome the stammer and find her vocation.

During her time at Hurtwood House boarding school Emily was chosen to peform at the Edinburgh Film Festival and subsequently was signed by agent, Ken McReddie. Her talents were acknowledged from the start and she was quickly signed onto projects for the BBC, including ‘Foyle’s War’, ‘Henry VIII’, and ‘Empire’. In 2001 she appeared as Gwen Cavendish opposite Dame Judi Dench in Sir Peter Hall’s production of “The Royal Family” at Haymarket Theatre. For that role she won the Evening Standard Award for Best Newcomer. In 2002 she played Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet” at the prestigious Chichester Festival.

In 2003 she starred as Isolda opposite Alex Kingston in Boudica (2003) TV series and a year later she was cast as Tamsin in My Summer of Love (2004) from which she gained great critical acclaim. Emily Blunt and her co-star Nathalie Press shared an Evening Standard British Film award for Most Promising Newcomer. Next she was to star in Irresistible (2006) with Susan Sarandon who had personally requested that Emily audition for Mara. Also in 2005 Emily starred in Gideon’s Daughter (2005) (TV) opposite Bill Nighy, a role that won her a 2007 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.

Although Emily’s career had already been successful many critics claimed that 2006 was her “breakout year” for her role in The Devil Wears Prada (2006), as Emily, a fashion mad assistant at “Runway” magazine. The recognition Emily received from this role thrust her into the Hollywood circle and gained her a variety of new jobs. In 2007 Emily starred in four new projects, most notably Charlie Wilson’s War alongside Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts and The Jane Austen Book Club

2008 was also a successful year with Emily filming the witty independent film Sunshine Cleaning alongside Hollywood star Amy Adams and The Great Buck Howard. A more serious role came her way in 2008 when it was announced that she would take the lead role in The Young Victoria. Emily expressed a joy in being able to switch from Comedy to drama – “To play the Queen of England and for it to be a subtle drama was great for me because I have played a lot of comedy roles since ‘Prada,. That seemed to be what was coming my way because I like doing funny stuff. But I think I can mix it up.”

After The Young Victoria fans can see Emily in a number of exciting projects. Firstly Emily will work along side Bill Nighy again in Wild Target, a comedy about an assassin who befriends and falls in love with his targets, rather than killing them, Rupert Grint also stars. Next Emily will star in The Wolf Man opposite Benicio del Toro, who plays the monster reaking havoc on a small village.

In 2009 it was rumoured Emily would star in Iron Man 2, but Emily had to regrettably pull out due to commitments to Gullivers Travels which is looking at a 2010 release.

(C) EmilyBluntFans.com – Last Updated: 17th July 2009.