Emily Blunt Turns 43: From Red Carpet Glam to Iconic Roles – See Her Style Evolution

ByHrvoje Milakovic Published on
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Emily Blunt is celebrating her 43rd birthday, and it’s a perfect moment to look back at her journey from a young theatre actress to one of Hollywood’s most versatile stars. Her career began on the stage in London when she was just 18.

In 2001, she appeared in Peter Hall’s production of The Royal Family, playing the granddaughter of Judi Dench’s character. Critics were impressed, and she was named “Best Newcomer” by the Evening Standard. Blunt quickly followed this with roles in Vincent in Brixton and Romeo and Juliet, showing early on her range and dedication to acting.

Her screen debut came in 2003 with the British TV drama Boudica, where she portrayed the legendary Celtic queen. That same year, she earned praise for her role as Queen Catherine Howard in Henry VIII, proving she could handle historical drama with skill. The next year, she transitioned to film with My Summer of Love, an indie drama exploring a young romance in the English countryside.

Blunt described the experience as “such a foray into the great unknown … like putting your feet to the fire,” and credited it with shaping her approach to challenging roles. David Ansen of Newsweek praised her performance, writing that she and co-star Natalie Press “conjure up the role-playing raptures of youth with perfect poetic pitch.” She won the Evening Standard British Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer.

Blunt’s international breakthrough came in 2006 with The Devil Wears Prada. She played Emily Charlton, the sharp assistant to Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly. Clifford Pugh of the Houston Chronicle noted that “[Blunt] has many of the film’s best lines and steals nearly every scene she’s in.” That year, she also starred in the TV drama Gideon’s Daughter, winning a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. Meryl Streep called her “the best young actress I’ve worked with in some time, perhaps ever.”

From 2007 to 2010, Blunt took on a mix of genres. She appeared in Wind Chill, Dan in Real Life, Charlie Wilson’s War, and Sunshine Cleaning, the latter receiving praise from Rolling Stone and The New York Times for her performance alongside Amy Adams. In 2009, she played Queen Victoria in The Young Victoria, earning Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice nominations. She then took supporting roles in The Wolfman and Gulliver’s Travels, showing that she was willing to experiment across different types of projects.

In 2011, Blunt starred in The Adjustment Bureau and the romantic comedy-drama Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, both of which earned positive reviews. Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times wrote, “Blunt and [Ewan McGregor] are two of the most gifted and attractive actors working today, able to play off each other with great style.” That same year, she made a cameo in Disney’s The Muppets and became the face of Yves Saint Laurent’s fragrance Opium.

Her success continued with roles in Looper, The Five-Year Engagement, and Arthur Newman, before taking on the action-heavy role of Sergeant Rita Vrataski in Edge of Tomorrow (2014). For this part, she trained in martial arts, wire work, and gymnastics. Critics praised her performance, and she won the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actress in an Action Movie. She also starred in Disney’s Into the Woods while pregnant, earning praise for her singing and acting.

From 2015 onward, Blunt became a household name. She starred in Sicario, The Girl on the Train, and the horror hit A Quiet Place, directed by her husband, John Krasinski. Blunt called the role in A Quiet Place deeply personal, saying it “represented some of my deepest fears – of not being able to protect my children.” She reprised the role in A Quiet Place Part II and continued to balance commercial hits with critically acclaimed performances.

In 2018, she took on Mary Poppins Returns, earning her sixth Golden Globe nomination. She also appeared in Jungle Cruise (2021), the miniseries The English, and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer (2023). Nolan said Blunt humanized her character in ways that surprised him: “No vanity, no fear of humiliation, no wanting to control the way she would appear.” Her performance earned her first Academy Award nomination, and Oppenheimer became her highest-grossing film to date.

Blunt continues to work on exciting projects, including The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day, both set for 2026. Journalists have praised her versatility. The Guardian wrote that she “specialises in a sort of calculated understatement,” while Elle noted, “she has a knack for playing subtle, unspoken notes like a virtuoso.” She is widely regarded as one of the most talented and adaptable actresses of her generation.

Outside of acting, Blunt is married to John Krasinski, and they have two children. She balances her family life with a demanding career, often taking on roles that challenge her physically and emotionally. Her ability to move effortlessly between action, drama, and comedy has made her one of the most respected stars in Hollywood.

Emily Blunt’s career is a testament to hard work, talent, and fearlessness. From stage debut to blockbuster hits, she has constantly pushed herself and evolved as an actress. Personally, I find her journey inspiring because she shows that it’s possible to maintain versatility and authenticity in a highly commercial industry.

What do you think about Emily Blunt’s career and her evolution as an actress? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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