Emily Blunt in the Time of "The Young Victoria"

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Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Interviews

Published on Sunday, 27 December 2009 19:25

Written by Brad Balfour

Q: Celebrities are always complaining about the downside of dealing with fame and attention and paparazzi.

EB: It's a really magical job, so the side effect of what comes with that can be good and bad. But what I get out of it is the work. It's not whatever people think of me because with that comes bad and that willingness to see you fall as well.

A lot of people like to see a fall from grace. There's a real hunger for that. I'm aware of that, so I try not to buy too much into what people think. But as long as I keep getting the parts that I've been lucky enough to play… The variety is what I really strive for, because that's what I love about the work.

It's a wonderful job in that everything you go through in life can come out in it somehow. You can have a visceral reaction to so much in life and then put it into your work.

Q: What was your impression of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York [former sister-in-law of Britain's Prince Charles], and did you get to meet any other real-life royals?

EB: Sarah was a great support system because she came up with the initial idea, but then she very much took a back step and said, "What do I know about making a film? I know nothing about that."

But she'd come on set and make tea for everyone. She was always so open and down-to-earth; I think that you were able to see the humanity in the royal family through her because she would talk quite openly. In a way, she identified more with Albert because Albert was the guest in the house and the outsider, and she actually understood his character more.

Q: I want to know more about Fergie. She actually came on set and made tea?

EB: She only came on set twice. She really wasn't around once we started filming. She was very tenacious with Graham [King, producer of the film] in getting it off the ground, but once we started making it, she was just thrilled to be a part of it. I only got to know her after, when we started doing press.

Q: How do you think the royals will react to this movie?

EB: The Queen saw it; she liked it. She said she wants to know what happens next. So that was good.

Q: Did you get to meet her?

EB: No I've never met her.

Q: Though you haven't met the Queen, what is your imaginary scenario of getting to meet her Majesty.

EB: I'm sure I would botch it up somehow. I'm sure I'd forget to curtsy, or I don't know what I would do. I'd probably say the wrong thing; I might drop an F-bomb, it could all go wrong. I think it would be nice to meet her in this context because I've played a queen and I think I'd feel more at ease meeting her in this contextQ: Did you hear that Lady Gaga met The Queen?

EB: Did she meet the Queen? She did not! What was she wearing? Are you serious? Unbelievable. Unbelievable./p>

EB: Oh that's nice. It's funny because Sunshine Cleaning was the one that we didn't know what was going to happen with it. I thought it was a great little movie and I met one of my dear friends on it, Amy, and we just became such good friends. But again, it's with those little films that take off, it gives me hope I think for the industry, that these films will be seen, at least see it on dvd for god's sake.

Most people have seen Sunshine Cleaning now, which is great. I hope it does get revisited because people really enjoyed it. It was a film with real heart. It had a human heartbeat to it and I thought it was a really well-observed, sisterly relationship the script offered. 

It's again about a dysfunctional family I think, and about a family under duress, and I love the survival element of that family. It was great; Alan Arkin playing my dad, you can't go wrong.

EB: Because there are special effects with a film like [The Wolfman] — and it's a big movie — you can't accelerate its release date, it's not fair. It just needed some more time, they needed to cook a little more. But the film is so good so I'm really happy that they waited and I think it's the best time for people to see it. 

This fall is all about the awards seasons and all that, but I don't know if it's that kind of film. It's not; it's a werewolf movie. It's a brilliant one because it's more of a throwback to the old Lon Chaney films. It's classic and gothic and eerie, but I don't think it competes with the slasher movies in that way because I think it's better. 

It was a combination of reasons, but again, I don't really see it as anything to do with me; I did my job, they loved the movie. I almost feel this is the best time because I feel like more people are going to see it in February anyway.

Q: Do you know why they brought in the new editors?

EB: No. I mean I don't know what happens behind those scenes. It's important to get as many influences as possible with a film of that scale, with that much effects that need to take place.

Q: Of the two genres — werewolf movies and costumed historical dramas — what do you watch more of?

EB: Oh this one. I don't do scary films; I'm not great with scary movies.

Q: Are there any favorites that you have of this genre?

EB: Elizabeth, you know, because Cate [Blanchett] just was insane in it, I mean she's so brilliant. And I loved Mrs. Brown (1997; Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown in the U.S.) — I saw that ages ago and it's one of my favorite performances that I've ever seen. 

You know when you see those films and there are moments in films that last forever in your mind? I get upset thinking about it, it's Judi Dench when she first meets Billy Connolly and he breaks down all of the barriers; she's being very polite and she's obviously on the edge of having a breakdown, and he very casually says to her, "My God, I heard you were bad, but I didn't expect to find you in this much of a state." She completely breaks down in the scene. 

I remember rewinding it and watching it about 10 times because I didn't know how she did it; it was so alive, so organic and real. It's those moments that you remember from films, so even before I had The Young Victoria, before I'd even heard they were making this film, that was always one of my favorite moments in cinematic history. And my first job, my first theater job, was with Judi.

Q: Do you have anything new coming up like maybe a sequel to The Wolfman?

EB: I don't know what I'm doing next, which is actually quite nice. I'm ready to read a lot and take it all in. I'm not really sure, this year's been quite busy so I think I'm very much looking forward to finding that thing that gets me really excited about going to work. That's not to say I haven't had that experience on other sets, but I would like to take a breather and find something that's really great.

Q: What about doing more comedy?

EB: I've done a lot of comedy. [The upcoming] Gulliver's Travels was a big comedy and that was really fun. I don't mind, I've never really had a preference for it; I usually enjoy films that are a bit in the middle because the films that make you cry are the films where you've fallen so in love with the characters because they're funny and they're quirky so I think I enjoy films that offer you both of those things. 

It's quite hard anyway for an adult drama to be made these days, so you'll usually find something with that kind of hook to it. I think that comedies, if they're done in the right way, can charm you to tears. I'm a bit tired of the dick jokes, there's no finesse or charm to me.

Q: You mean you don't know a good dick joke?

EB: I do, but they should probably be kept behind closed doors.

Q: You're doing an animated film right?

EB: Yeah it's different. It's weird; you're constricted to this little booth that you're in. I'm doing it with James McEvoy and we haven't had one session together. It's called Gnomeo and Juliet so do the math.

Q: You spend so much time in New York; would you consider doing a Broadway show?

EB: I'd love to, I'd really love to. I'm not going to do a musical but I would love to do a Broadway show, yeah.

Q: Were you surprised by all the reaction you had with your breakout film, My Summer of Love? It's so British and then you go and play Americans all the time. What's it like to go from such a buzz so early on?

EB: Well not many people saw My Summer of Love. You guys did because you guys know what you're talking about, but a lot of people didn't. In a weird way that's what I mean about these films; if there's buzz around it that's a good thing because I think it was mistimed, My Summer of Love because it got the most glowing reviews I've ever read of any film and people went crazy for it and they couldn't place it. 

It's this magical little film that people couldn't understand and people loved it, but no one saw it. So you need the buzz around films like this. I watched The Deer Hunter the other day and I don't think it would get made nowadays. And it's tragic.

Q: Do you have any hopes or expectations with award season?

EB: No. [laughs] Again, I feel like people are the bird watchers; but you can't have an awareness of what's going to happen. It's such a meat market, so who knows. I just want people to see it.

I feel if there's any buzz around this film it's a good thing, not in a selfish way for me, but for the film because these films need a lot of help because they can be overwhelmed by New Moon or whatever else. This film deserves to be seen. It's very beautiful, so if there's any kind of buzz around it, that's good.

 For a related FFRtrav story go to: http://filmfestivaltraveler.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=346:destination-cinema-young-victoria&catid=105:travel-feature&Itemid=107

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