Being an actor is a tricky profession. You live in someone else's skin for a series of months, before leaving the role behind and moving on to a next project. And when you're a dramatic actor, this process can be doubly exhausting. That was likely the case with Golden Globe nominee Emily Blunt, who did a slew of dramatic films over the past few years.
Emily Blunt gets to take a decidedly lighter journey in Rob Marshall's Mary Poppins Returns, a direct sequel to the 1964 original movie. I recently had the chance to speak with Blunt about her practically perfect role, as well as her next project, Disney's Jungle Cruise. When I asked if these comedies were a nice departure after being in so many dramas, she said:
Yes. I think I had a little run of the Sicario's, The Girl on the Train, A Quiet Place. I think that I was ready to go toward the light. It's not that I don't want to do something darker and gritty again. Because I do like the flip flopping between. It's more exciting for me as an actor and as a person. To sort of dive into different world all the time. But Jungle Cruise was truly the best experience ever. It was so much fun. We all sort of cried when it was over. It was just awesome.
Well, can you blame her? Emily Blunt's career has spanned both comedies and dramas, with Mary Poppins Returns marking her second movie musical. And while she likes to paint with all different colors, it seems that her duo of Disney films may have been influenced by the ultra serious dramas she recently worked on.
After a star-making moment in The Devil Wears Prada, Emily Blunt has done a variety of different movies. But over the past few years, the work has required Blunt to go to very dark places. The Girl on The Train earned the actress a ton of critical acclaim, as she played protagonist Rachel. Based off the novel of the same name, her portrayal of alcoholism was heart-wrenching and visceral.
Meanwhile, A Quiet Place took her to another extreme, as her character Evelyn attempted to survive the apocalypse. Particularly, the scene where she is forced to give birth in complete silence, as one of the aliens tried to find her though their sense of sound. Suffering has been a regular part of her past two characters, so it must be fun to play someone so practically perfect as Mary Poppins.
You can check out my conversation with Emily Blunt below.
Mary Poppins Returns will definitely help bring Emily Blunt to the light, as she gets to sing new songs, fly on a kite, and even appear in an animated musical sequence. Of course, there will also be plenty of heartbreaking moments, as the upcoming sequel will focus on loss and death, with Michael Banks and his children mourning their wife/mother.
Mary Poppins Returns will arrive in theaters on December 19th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.
