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If you were going to cast the anti-Hollywood – an untinsely town that was the very antithesis of the world’s most high-profile movie production centre – a very good place to start would be Wandsworth. One of London’s least-distinguished boroughs, it is home to a number of neighbourhoods – notably Balham and Tooting Bec – that are all but shorthand for dull places to live among many metropolitan Brits.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51348" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-1.jpg" alt="Emily Blunt 1" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-1.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-1-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-1-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-1-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-1-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-1-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-1-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Nevertheless, it was here, on 23 February 1983, that one of Hollywood’s currently most-bankable icons – Emily Olivia Leah Blunt – first put in an appearance. Born into a Britain where unemployment had just hit an all-time high and where the tabloids of the day were going to town on the recent discovery of the lair of a serial killer (just 14 miles from where baby Blunt lay cradled), few would have put money on the fact that, 37 years later, she would be one of the world’s most in-demand actresses.
Indeed, the current level of her commitments is dizzying. Not only is she returning to cinemas this month in A Quiet Place Part II (a sequel to the 2018 smash hit horror movie she starred in alongside her husband John “The Office US” Krasinski), she is also tipped to be starring in The English, a new TV Western series coming courtesy of the BBC and scheduled to hit small screens globally next year. As if that was not enough, she and Krasinski are also rumoured to be in talks to play, arguably, the most famous couple in the Marvel comics universe – Sue and Reed Richards, a duo that makes up 50 percent of the Fantastic Four and are better known as, respectively, the Invisible Girl and the modestly-monikered Mr Fantastic.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51349" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-2.jpg" alt="Emily Blunt 2" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-2.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-2-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-2-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-2-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-2-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
To be fair, this is not quite the rags to riches story so beloved of paid Hollywood legend-makers. In fact, it would be something of an understatement to say that the young Emily was born into a life of obscurity. The second of four children, her father, Oliver, was a high-profile barrister, while her mother, Joanna, was herself an actress. Nor do the family’s claims to fame end there – her grandfather was a Major General and one of her uncles was a local Member of Parliament. While such a lineage is clearly no guarantee of success, it was – at the very least – something of a door-opener for the aspiring young actress.
There was however one very literal impediment on her road to cinematic acclaim – from the age of seven, the young Blunt suffered from a debilitating stutter. Looking back on that difficult time, she now says: “Stutterers don’t feel understood. It’s not psychological. It’s not that you’re nervous, it’s not that you’re insecure, it’s not that you can’t read, it’s not that you don’t know what you want to say. It’s neurological, it’s genetic, it’s biological. It’s not your fault.”
It took her seven years to finally overcome the problem and only then with considerable counselling and therapy from the American Institute for Stuttering. Clearly a great believer in paying her dues, she is now one of the New York-headquartered charity’s most high-profile patrons.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51350" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-3.jpg" alt="Emily Blunt 3" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-3.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-3-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-3-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-3-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-3-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
With this key obstacle out of the way, it wasn’t long after that when her star quality was spotted during a performance at her thesp-friendly sixth form college in Surrey. It was enough to secure her an agent and her first professional work swiftly followed. Her stage debut, though, didn’t see her appearing in just any old play.
No, aged 18, she took to the boards in a production of The Royal Family, a satire on a US acting dynasty directed by Sir Peter Hall, the former head of the UK’s National Theatre. Not only did this see the young actress appearing alongside true acting royalty – in the form of leading lady Dame Judi Dench – it also saw her singled out as the year’s Best Newcomer in the London Evening Standard’s annual theatre awards.
A string of other stage appearances followed before she made her TV debut in 2003’s Boudica, the tale of an ancient Celtic warrior woman. The following year she arrived – apparently fully-formed – on the big screen, winning widespread acclaim for her role as a young woman with romantic aspirations in My Summer of Love. From there, she was set on the fast track to Hollywood success.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51351" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-4.jpg" alt="Emily Blunt 4" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-4.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-4-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-4-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-4-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Emily-Blunt-4-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
Naturally, her talent and looks also caught the attention of a host of would-be Hollywood beaux. It was, however, ultimately a Canadian – the multi-award-winning singer-songwriter Michael Bublé – who she embarked on her first high-profile relationship with. It was not long after the two went their separate way that she was introduced to Krasinski, who was then riding high as the audience touch-point in The Office US, a remake of a highly-successful BBC comedy series. The two got engaged the following year and married in July 2010 in Italy. Speaking at the time, a clearly smitten Blunt described the moment Krasinski proposed saying: “All I can tell you is that there were flutes playing in the background, butterflies, there were angels showering us with rainbow drops.”
Some 12 years later, with the angels still clearly on their side, the couple have two daughters – Hazel (five) and Violet (three) – with both their off-screen and onscreen partnership both seemingly still going strong. Neither does marriage or maternity appear to have diminished her allure, with FHM magazine recently designating her as one of the world’s 100 Sexiest Women. Next up, she’ll be hitting Hong Kong cinemas on March 19 in the long-awaited A Quiet Place Part II.
Text: William Elliott 
Photos: AFP

Blunt Talk: How A Quiet Place actress Emily Blunt learnt to speak out

If you want to take a break from the current situation in Hong Kong, there’s no better way to while away a couple of hours and taking in the latest big-screen outings. Be it the much-awaited sequel to A Quiet Place or the live-adaptation release of Mulan, here are the must-watch movies hitting Hong Kong this March. &nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51085" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/march-movies-min.jpg" alt="March movies releasing" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/march-movies-min.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/march-movies-min-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/march-movies-min-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/march-movies-min-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/march-movies-min-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/march-movies-min-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/march-movies-min-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Jexi – 5 March
The film Jexi revolves around the relationship between a socially awkward features writer Phil and an AI robot Jexi on his phone. Initially, the virtual robot acts as a life coach and helps him to overcome his smartphone addiction and make friends in real life. However, when he becomes independent, Jexi, not quite happy with the change, turns into a tech nightmare. Created by the directors who gave us comedic smashes like Hangover and Bad Moms, Jexi looks set to be a darkly humorous hit.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EtpBbRsNr-M" width="789" height="444" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
The Call of the Wild – 5 March
Based on the 1903 novel by the same title, The Call of the Wild follows the journey a man takes with a dog named Buck. From a pet dog in a home in California to becoming a sled dog in the wilds of Alaska, Buck has his own background story that makes him unique and lovable. Described as ‘an adventure of a lifetime’, love and comraderie lie at the heart of this movie.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5P8R2zAhEwg" width="789" height="444" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Like a Boss – 5 March
Two best friends and business partners – Mia and Mel – think they are living a successful life running their beauty company until they are hit with the hard reality – their debt. That is where the cosmetic industry expert Claire Luna (Selma Hayek) comes in to help. However, she ends up sabotaging their business by taking advantage of their ideas and hard work. Filled with laughter and a star-studded cast – Billy Porter, Tiffany Haddish, Rose Byrne and more, Like a Boss is pure&nbsp;entertainment.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9ESkyRFEso4" width="789" height="444" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
A Quiet Place Part II – 19 March
When A Quiet Place ended, the Abbott family finally found a solution to save themselves from the monsters that was traumatising their lives. With A Quiet Place Part II, it comes to light that those weren’t the only creatures they had to protect themselves from. If you loved the 2018 thriller movie, this upcoming sequel is sure to interest you, just get ready for a scary good time.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XEMwSdne6UE" width="789" height="444" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Mulan – 26 March
It was a classic Chinese tale, then it was a smash animated hit, now Mulan has gotten a Disney live-adaptation makeover and, after much hype, is about to hit Hong Kong. Follow the titular character of Mulan as she disguises herself as a man to take her father’s place in the imperial army as they head towards a face-off with the invading Huns. Is it as good as the beloved 1998 original? We’ll just have to wait and see&#8230; 
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KK8FHdFluOQ" width="789" height="328" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

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Blunt Talk: How A Quiet Place actress Emily Blunt learnt to speak out

Reel Deal: Movies releasing in March in Hong Kong