Over the course of her impressive career, Emily Blunt has played everyone from British royalty to an FBI agent to Mary Poppins. Her versatility has earned the 42-year-old British actress two Critics’ Choice Awards, a Golden Globe and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2024, Blunt was finally recognized for her stellar acting chops when she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars for her role in Oppenheimer. But beyond that, Blunt is loved by movie fans, critics and fellow actors for her quick wit and spirited personality.
Blunt is about to add to her long list of performances, as she reprises her role as Emily Charlton in the highly anticipated sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, which she credited as the film that “changed her life”. The sequel is set to come out in May 2026, so in the meantime, watch 8 of Blunt’s best performances on the big screen below.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton in "The Devil Wears Prada"
Photo: Twentieth Century Fox via IMDb
The Devil Wears Prada really is the film that made us all fall in love with Blunt. Adapted from Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 novel, David Frankel’s film has become a cult classic chick flick with its iconic one-liners and marvellous costumes. The film follows Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) as she lands a job as the second assistant of Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), the editor-in-chief of fashion magazine Runway. Blunt’s hilarious performance as the mean and workaholic first assistant earned her her first Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations.
The Young Victoria (2009)
Emily Blunt as Queen Victoria in "The Young Victoria"
Photo: Momentum Pictures via IMDb
Under the direction of Jean-Marc Vallée, Blunt becomes Princess Victoria before the world knew her as Queen. In the Martin Scorsese-produced period drama, a young Princess Victoria navigates the politics of the royal family as she falls in love with Prince Albert (Rupert Friend) and ascends the throne. Blunt’s performance was praised for making Queen Victoria relatable and authentic, adding romance and lightness to a genre that often feels dry to many audiences.
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Emily Blunt as Sergeant Rita Vrataski in "Edge of Tomorrow"
Photo: David James - 2013 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.- U.S., Canada, Bahamas & Bermuda
Blunt truly shows off her range in Edge of Tomorrow, a sci-fi action film directed by Doug Liman. In the film, Blunt plays Sergeant Rita Vrataski, a celebrated war hero for winning a decisive battle with an alien race known as “Mimics”. Acting alongside the most famous action movie star Tom Cruise, Blunt proves she can still hold her own, kicking butts and killing aliens left and right. But she also handles her character with resolve, tenderness and a little bit of her signature humour. With this badass role, Blunt earned her first Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actress in an Action Movie.
Into the Woods (2014)
Emily Blunt as Baker's Wife in "Into the Woods"
Photo: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures via IMDb
8 years after The Devil Wears Prada, Emily Blunt and Meryl Streep reunite on screen for the musical Into the Woods (this time without the heels and constant phone ringing). Our favorite childhood stories – Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood – all get chaotically mixed up in this film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s 1987 musical. Blunt plays the wife to James Corden’s baker, alongside Anna Kendrick, Johnny Depp, Chris Pine and Christine Baranski. For the musical, Blunt garnered her 5th Golden Globe nomination.
Sicario (2015)
The Denis Villeneuve-directed film follows the brutal battle between the FBI and a Mexican drug cartel, and made its world premiere at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. In this film, Blunt plays Kate Macer, a righteous FBI agent tasked to apprehend the leader of a powerful drug cartel across the border, which drags her into the corrupt world of the drug trade. Acting alongside Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin and Daniel Kaluuya, Blunt showed that she can also shine in dramatic action thrillers, winning the approval of moviegoers and critics.
The Girl on the Train (2016)
Emily Blunt as Rachel Watson in "The Girl on the Train"
Photo: Universal Pictures via IMDb
After starring in an action film, Blunt led Tate Taylor’s psychological thriller The Girl on the Train. She plays 32-year-old Rachel Watson, a divorcee and alcoholic who aimlessly rides the train to New York every day. One day on the train, she notices her ex-husband’s neighbour kissing a stranger. Later, the neighbour goes missing, and Rachel decides to uncover what happened to her. While the film may not have been as successful as her other films, critics credited Blunt’s gripping performance for carrying the film.
A Quiet Place (2018)
Emily Blunt as Evelyn Abbott in "A Quiet Place"
Photo: Jonny Cournoyer - Paramount Pictures
Blunt turned up the suspense with her first horror film, A Quiet Place. The film is set in an apocalyptic world overrun by blind alien creatures with an acute sense of hearing. Blunt plays Evelyn Abbott, a pregnant mother who must keep her family safe and quiet in order to survive. She acted alongside husband John Krasinski, who also directed the film. Blunt’s silent but composed performance was one of her most memorable yet, earning her a Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role.
Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins in "Mary Poppins Returns"
Photo: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Blunt makes a triumphant comeback to musicals in Mary Poppins Returns, taking on the iconic Julie Andrews role for a modern spin. In this sequel, Mary Poppins, the former nanny of Michael and Jane Banks, returns to them after Michael’s wife passes away. Mary Poppins helps Michael take care of his children while he stops their house from being repossessed by the bank. Even though it’s difficult to play a role made famous by Julie Andrews, Blunt accepted the challenge and made the role her own, earning her nominations at the Critics’ Choice Awards, Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Emily Blunt as Katherine "Kitty" Oppenheimer in "Oppenheimer"
Photo: Universal Pictures via IMDb
In Christopher Nolan’s biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), Blunt plays Katherine, the volatile wife of the “father of the atomic bomb”. While each cast member was praised for their fantastic performances, Blunt was singled out for her nuanced and electrifying performance with the little screen time she had. Between the drunken rants, her discovery of her husband’s infidelity and finally standing up for herself in an interrogation, Blunt portrayed Katherine as a broken but fierce and defiant woman. Her captivating performance finally earned her a well-deserved Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
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Photo: Twentieth Century Fox via IMDb
