Emily Blunt has gracefully conquered roles as varied as British royalty, a formidable fashionista, and a time-traveling warrior. The Oscar-nominated actress is celebrated as one of the most talented figures of her generation.
To celebrate her birthday, Variety ranks her 12 best film performances of her career so far.
Blunt’s filmography is impressive, and almost inconceivable it took so long to be honored with an Academy Award nomination. Her remarkable body of work has earned her six Golden Globe noms, two BAFTA nods, and four Screen Actors Guild nominations. She notably clinched a SAG Award for her compelling portrayal of a pregnant mother navigating a post-apocalyptic world in “A Quiet Place,” directed by her husband, John Krasinski. This victory made her as only the second actor to win a SAG Award without receiving an Oscar nomination, following Idris Elba for “Beasts of No Nation” in 2015.
Beyond her professional accolades, Blunt is cherished by fans and peers for her quick wit and vibrant personality. Her authenticity and relatable nature have won over audiences worldwide, forging a deep connection with moviegoers of every age.
Read Variety’s ranking of her best performances below.
Honorable mentions: “The Girl on the Train” (2016); “A Quiet Place Part II” (2020); and “The Muppets” (2011).
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'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen' (2011)
Image Credit: Laurie Sparham Role: Harriet
Distributed by: Lionsgate
Directed by: Lasse Hallström
Written by: Simon Beaufoy (based on “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” by Paul Torday)Charming and sweet, Lasse Hallström’s Golden Globe-nominated comedy is simply entertaining. And how can it not be? You have Blunt using all her magnetism opposite the blazingly talented Ewan McGregor. While not necessarily Oscar-worthy, it’s a standout that has grown in popularity over the last few years.
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'Into the Woods' (2014)
Role: Baker’s Wife
Distributed by: Walt Disney Pictures
Directed by: Rob Marshall
Written by: James Lapine (based on “Into the Woods” by Stephen Sondheim and Lapine)In this musical fantasy from “Chicago” helmer Rob Marshall, Blunt strikes a delicate balance of humor and relatable humanity. Imbued with a sincerity that makes the character’s desires for a family deeply personal, it’s her expresssive singing that strikes an emotional chord.
She also showcases great chemistry with her co-stars James Corden and Meryl Streep, showing she elevates any ensemble she takes part in.
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'Your Sister's Sister' (2011)
Role: Iris
Distributed by: IFC Films
Directed by: Lynn Shelton
Written by: Lynn SheltonThe indie dramedy from the late Lynn Shelton gives Blunt a moment to not just show her superb acting skills and range, but how beautifully she works with those around her, in this case Rosemarie DeWitt and Mark Duplass, who also shine. Unconventional in its narrative structure, the film’s purity is felt through the passion of the cast.
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'Sunshine Cleaning' (2008)
Role: Norah
Distributed by: Overture Films
Directed by: Christine Jeffs
Written by: Megan HolleyOpposite cinema’s other darling, Amy Adams, Blunt’s supporting turn in Christine Jeffs’ empowering film featuring strong female characters is one of her most undervalued in her filmography. Her Norah, who is unreliable and a wildcard in Rose’s life, conveys her moment of independence in the film’s final act. And how can we forget the duo cleaning and carrying the dirty mattress?
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'The Young Victoria' (2009)
Role: Queen Victoria
Distributed by: Momentum Pictures
Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallée
Written by: Julian FellowesThe British period drama showcased Blunt’s commanding presence under the direction of “Dallas Buyers Club” helmer Jean-Marc Vallée. Sharing the screen with Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany and Miranda Richardson, the actress brought accessibility to an often dry genre.
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'Sicario' (2015)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate Role: Kate Macer
Distributed by: Lionsgate
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Written by: Taylor SheridanEmily Blunt shines as an FBI agent opposite Benicio del Toro. Both effectively convey the relentless and never-ending pursuit of bringing down the drug cartel in Denis Villeneuve’s neo-Western thriller from scribe Taylor Sheridan (“Hell or High Water”), under the lens of master cinematographer Roger Deakins and against the composing backdrop of the late Jóhann Jóhannsson.
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'Looper' (2012)
Role: Sara
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Releasing
Directed by: Rian Johnson
Written by: Rian JohnsonRian Johnson’s 2012 action-thriller “Looper,” which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival, showed just how much the sci-fi genre had evolved. Opposite Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Blunt plays Sara, mother to Cid (played creepily but brilliantly by Pierce Gagnon). Her soothing mannerisms are as affecting as her ferocious, wood-chopping, shotgun-wielding badass moments.
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'A Quiet Place' (2018)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures Role: Evelyn Abbott
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
Directed by: John Krasinski
Written by: Bryan Woods, Scott Beck, John KrasinskiThe horror genre has never been in better hands than with John Krasinski and his cinematic muse, Emily Blunt. The two unpack a powerful story that showcases the beauty and terrors of silence in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by monsters who find their prey based on sound. Blunt won the Screen Actors Guild Award for female actor in a supporting role, but failed to garner an Oscar nomination, likely splitting votes with the other half of her one-two punch, “Mary Poppins Returns.”
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'Mary Poppins Returns' (2018)
Image Credit: courtesy of Disney Role: Mary Poppins
Distributed by: Walt Disney Pictures
Directed by: Rob Marshall
Written by: David Magee, Rob Marshall, John DeLuca (based on “Mary Poppins” by P.L. Travers)It requires guts to take on an iconic performance such as Julie Andrews’ in her Oscar-winning role of “Mary Poppins.” Blunt’s fearless and impeccable vocals, especially in the Oscar-nominated number “The Place Where Lost Things Go,” is one of beauty and elegance, showcasing irresistible happiness that we don’t see too often in films, especially in sequels. Golden Globes, BAFTAs and SAGs all recognized it, but alas, the Oscars passed on it.
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'Oppenheimer' (2023)
Image Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon Role: Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Written by: Christopher NolanPart of the avalanche of critical acclaim and admiration for Nolan’s drama, Blunt’s brave turn as the wife and former Communist Party member who supports the creator of the atomic bomb is a sensational outing. And one that brought her a long overdue Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.
In a pivotal scene towards the end of the film, Kitty’s deposition showcases her undying love and the complexities of her life and relationship. “It was one of the last scenes I shot and was a very claustrophobic set by design,” she recalled to Variety. “What I loved about the scene when I read it, which I thought is very clever, at this point in the film [Kitty] has become so volatile and unpredictable. And dangerous probably through the drinking problem and her own quiet desperation. In so many ways, she’s set up to fail in that scene.”
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'The Devil Wears Prada' (2006)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox Role: Emily
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Directed by: David Frankel
Written by: Aline Brosh McKenna (based on “The Devil Wears Prada” by Lauren Weisberger)Blunt’s big breakout role came opposite Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada.” As Miranda Priestly’s (Streep) co-assistant, she delivers all the zinging one-liners and has never made pudding look so good on screen. For her work, she received a Golden Globe nomination for supporting actress in a motion picture.
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'Edge of Tomorrow' (2014)
Role: Rita
Distributed by: Warner Bros.
Directed by: Doug Liman
Written by: Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth (based on “All You Need Is Kill” by Hiroshi Sakurazaka)The “Groundhog Day” magic of “Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow” (not sure anyone really knows what the true title is) is the chemistry between stars Tom Cruise and Blunt. Her Sergeant Rita Vrataski, the “Angel of Verdun,” kicks ass and takes names in every frame, showcasing one of the finest science-fiction performances of its kind since Sigourney Weaver in “Aliens” (1986). The Oscars should have recognized the stellar performance.