FashionLondon EDIT
“The job is what I do, it’s not who I am. It
never has been and so I feel like I do have
somewhat of a jewelled existence in some
way. I’ve always managed to see acting as
a very magical job that I’m very lucky to
do,” says Blunt of her prolific career. At just
32, the London born actress has become
one of Hollywood’s most sought after and
dazzling stars. An achievement for anyone
but especially so considering she had to
overcome a severe stutter when she was
younger, something which ultimately had a
positive impact on her life: “My interest in
acting probably grew out of that fact that
I had a really bad speech impediment as a
child, so I used to do impressions all the
time, mimicking family members or teachers.
I found whenever I did a silly voice, I could
speak more fluently,” she explains. “I had a
teacher who saw that and encouraged me
to take acting lessons and that helped even
more. There was something quite liberating
about being able to throw yourself into
another character, not having to worry
about whatever was going to come out of
your mouth next…” And thank goodness
she did, from playing a young Queen
Victoria to taking on action roles in Edge
of Tomorrow and new film Sicaro (Mexican
slang for ‘hitman’) in which she plays an FBI
agent, she has proven herself to be one of
Hollywood’s most versatile and coveted stars.
But it was 2006’s The Devil wears Prada with
which she is most famously associated, a role
which earnt her Golden Globe and BAFTA
nominations for Best Supporting Actress
and made her a darling of the fashion world.
In the film she portrays the neurotic and
fashion-obsessed Emily, a faithful assistant
to evil magazine editor Miranda Priestly,
the impossible-to-please ice queen played
by Meryl Steep. The film’s costume designer
was revered Sex and the City stylist Patricia
Field, who thanks to her extensive contacts
list was able to borrow over $1million’s worth
of clothes despite only having a budget
of $100,000. Blunt’s high fashion looks,
featuring plenty of leather, chained belts,
statement necklaces and cinched waists,
were mostly from legendary British designer
Vivienne Westwood. In real life though,
Blunt is perhaps more like Anne Hathaway’s
character Andy, who takes a more laidback
attitude to fashion; When asked of the
main drawback to celebrity life, she even
went so far as to say: “It’s not celebrity per
se, but it’s a fact that as an actress you’re
always expected to look perfect, wear the
latest design, and always look your best.
Sometimes you want to wear a T-shirt and
jeans when you go to the grocery store or to
a café and read a book or magazine.” Still,
when it comes to being in the spotlight at
awards shows or movie premiere red carpets,
Emily usually makes the Best Dressed lists
for her trademark mix of old Hollywood
glamour with a strong British influence.
With her flawless complexion, cat-like
eyes and full lips it was to no one’s surprise
when in 2011 she was chosen as the face of
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