Emily Blunt is playing roles lately that take her breath away… literally. She squeezed into corsets in The Young Victoria and screamed her lungs out while fleeing a hairy hunk with extreme animal instincts in this month’s The Wolfman.
By Prairie Miller
Most fans know her as Emily from The Devil Wears Prada, a role she had to lose weight for to appear magazine-thin. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Drama” for her role as Queen Victoria in The Young Victoria, which opened in December. During an interview with the British actress, she told us about some candid moments dodging Benicio Del Toro's leading guy fangs in The Wolfman, eluding nosy paparazzi off-screen, her personal recipe for sexy scenes, the upside of dive bars and why she likes to keep her good dick jokes behind closed doors.
We've met before, when you were doing interviews for Sunshine Cleaning. Wow, what was I like then? I must have been awful.
You're a lot more confident now. Oh, that's good!
So move over New Moon, you've got your own “wolfman” movie coming out. Oh yeah!
What was most freaky about dodging co-star Benicio Del Toro's fangs in The Wolfman,? I was really terrified during the chase scenes. I'm not great with scary movies. I was literally running. While wearing a corset! But it’s quite hard to do genres like The Wolfman, because you want to be able to react in a very real way. But it's so otherworldly and supernatural, and an experience you've never had yourself. You know, I’ve never come across a wolfman! And I don’t believe in it. So to have your whole existential bubble burst and trying to react, and then showing that in a realistic way, was tricky. It did help that Benicio looked absolutely f—ing terrifying! That helps transport you because it really makes your skin crawl, it’s so frightening. But yeah, when I got chased by the wolfman, I ran for my life! And I hate being chased, that’s my pet hate. When I was a kid, my mom would chase me up the stairs for a joke, and I would cry. I hated it. So now, I’m living my nightmare in this movie! But it was really fun.
What about handling your own star power, and dealing with that other pack of wolves chasing you around, known as the paparazzi? Um, I think it's all about the choices you make. Like, where do you want to go eat dinner. Don't go to the scenes, don't go where you know people are going to take your pictures. Just go find a dive bar! Why do you have to go to a scene, you know? But I think it's interesting. I think you have to develop quite a thick skin. Because people are gonna trash you. You know, not everyone's gonna think you're great. And I feel that's important to remember. And that's actually the best part of it, that you have no control over it. So you've got to relinquish that, and just let it go. Because I've no control over that side of it. I mean, over people's opinions. I do have control over how much I put myself out there. But I have a good life. You know, you have yourself at home behind closed doors. And then you have an awareness, when you step outside the house. So for me, it's only an awareness. It's no more than that, you know?
Any upside to fame? I don't know. I mean, I feel like it's a really magical job. The side effect that comes with that can be good or bad. But the thing that I get out of it is the work. And whatever people think of me or if you're regarded well. Because with that also comes sort of bad regard. And that willingness to see you fall as well. You know, a lot of people like to see you fall from grace. There's a real hunger for that. So I'm aware of that. And I try not to buy into too much of what people think. But as long as I'm lucky enough to keep getting the parts that I play, and the variety, that's what I really strive for. Because that's what I love about the work, the diversity of what you can do. And it's a wonderful job, in that everything you go through in life can come out of that somehow. You know, you can have a visceral reaction to so much in life and then put it into your work. So it's a really wonderful job in that way.
What are you up to in The Wolfman, anyway? I play Gwen. I suppose she's the damsel in distress character. But she's the love interest for Benicio's character.
So what's with the rumors about the delay in the release of this movie? It's so not fair. I think it just needed more time. It needed to cook a little more. But the film is so good. I'm really happy that they waited. I think it's the best time now for people to see it. I think with a film like this, because there are special effects and it's a big movie, you know, you can't accelerate its release date. And especially not during the awards season, and all of that, it's that kind of film. It's not, I mean, it's a werewolf movie. And it's a brilliant one because it's more of a throwback to the old Lon Chaney films. You know, it's classic and gothic and eerie. But I don't think it competes with the slasher movies in that way. Because I think it's better. So it was a combination of reasons. But again, that part of things, I don't see it as having anything to do with me. I did my job, and they loved the movie.
Do you know why they brought in the new editors to re-cut? No! I mean, I don't know what happens behind the scenes. But I think it's important to get as many influences as possible. Especially with a film with that much effects that need to take place.
Are you obsessed with horror movies at all? Oh, I don't do scary films!
How about sex scenes, are those scary too? When you genuinely like the other person, it gives you a freedom to try stuff. You know, you can improv moments, and they come alive.
What do you think makes for cool screen chemistry with a leading guy? Sometimes you strike gold and blow it out of the water. And sometimes it's like ... paint drying! But when it works, it's so fantastic.
So did you faint a lot, wearing those corsets for The Wolfman, and The Young Victoria? I got close to it! In the UK, we called it a whitie. Which means you go literally white. Like, get me out of it! But I was all right. I sort of got used to it. But by about four o'clock, that's when it starts to hurt. But they look beautiful. So you've got to just...suck it up! Suck it in, really.
Any pluses to the corsets? I think it transports you to moving a different way and holding yourself differently. So I think it does help you get into character. Everybody's different, but I tend to find the physical aspects of creating that person very helpful. Like the costumes and the clothes and the way they move, the voice, everything like that. And I usually start from that point. But obviously, I’m only taking on roles where someone will curtsy to me!
What do you think you would have been like if you lived back then like in these movies? Oh my god...It's almost an impossible question because I've no idea, but I'd hope I wouldn't be manipulated and controlled in the way a lot of women were in those days.
And nobody has to help you down the stairs, bundled up in corsets and those crazy costumes. Ha, no! But sometimes in heels! Heels can be tricky. So I do need a hand-holding then.
Exactly how smart do you have to be to figure out how to play characters from another time? Well, I took geography instead of history in school. Because it was easier! But I can't remember any of the geography because it was a stupid thing to take. I think history would have been a better way to go. But maybe not.
It's the awards season now; do you think about that? No! You can't have an awareness of what's going to happen. It's such a meat market. So who knows?
I notice how well you get along co-starring with canines. What's your secret? I walked around with sausages in my hands! And she followed me.
Do you have a dog? I have a dog, yeah. A huge dog! He's the best. He's a red fox Labrador. But he might be a mix. I think we got swindled!
How come? Because he's too beautiful. And he's huge. Like he's been cross-bred with a deer or something!
What's next for you? Like any sequel in the works to The Wolfman,? I don't know what I'm doing next, which is actually quite nice. But I'm ready to just read a lot and take it all in. This year has been very busy, so I'm really looking forward to finding that thing that gets me really excited about, you know, going to work. So I would like to take a breather, and find something that's really great. I do have an animated film with James McAvoy.
What's it about? Yeah, it's different; it's weird. It's called Romeo and Juliet, so ... Do the math!
What types of movies turn you on most to make? I like comedies. I think comedy, if it's done in the right way, can charm you to tears. Those are the best kind. I'm a bit tired of the dick jokes! If I have to do that, I'm like, there's no finesse or charm to me!
You mean you don't know a good dick joke? I do, but they should probably be kept behind closed doors!
What if you actually met the queen instead of playing one? I'm sure I'd botch it up somehow! Or I'd forget to curtsy. I don't know what I'd do! And I'd probably say the wrong thing. I might ... drop an F-bomb! Yeah, it could all go wrong.
Emily Blunt is playing roles lately that take her breath away… literally. She squeezed into corsets in The Young Victoria and screamed her lungs out while fleeing a hairy hunk with extreme animal instincts in this month’s The Wolfman.
