Emily Blunt, who is famous for her roles in “The Devil Wears Prada,” “A Quiet Place,” and “Edge of Tomorrow,” is making headlines for her recent comments on rejecting scripts that demand “strong female leads.” The actress, who has dominated the big screen for over a decade, revealed that she is outright bored of playing such roles and is looking for more depth in the characters she portrays.
In an interview with The Guardian, Blunt stated that she automatically rejects scripts that call for a “strong female lead.” She explained that these roles are often one-dimensional and require the actresses to act tough and say tough things the entire time. The British-born star further added that she is more interested in playing characters with complex layers and secrets, such as Lady Cornelia Locke in “The English.’
Blunt’s approach to selecting roles has earned her critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base. She received positive reviews for her performances in both “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Sicario.” Her recent role as Kitty Oppenheimer in “Oppenheimer,” a biopic that tells the story of the man who built the world’s first atomic bomb, has also been well-received.
The actress believes that there is still a double standard in Hollywood when it comes to likeability. She noted that men are not held to the same standard as women when it comes to playing complex and sometimes unlikeable characters. “No one cared if Leonardo DiCaprio was likable in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’” she said.
Blunt also opened up about her personal life and the pressure on young girls to be likable. She admitted that it would make her toes curl when parents tell her that their daughters want to be actresses. In a podcast interview published in July, she shared that she did not work this year to spend time with her two daughters and stressed the importance of being present in their formative years.
Blunt’s comments have sparked a debate in Hollywood about the representation of women onscreen. Many social media users have praised her for challenging the traditional notion of a strong female lead and are calling for more diversity and depth in female roles.
In a time when Hollywood is under scrutiny for its lack of diversity and equal pay for women, Blunt’s remarks have brought a fresh perspective to the conversation. As a leading actress, her words hold a lot of weight and could potentially bring about positive changes in the industry.