Emily Blunt Took Hiatus From Acting For A Year To ‘Be There’ For Her 2 Young Children

Jul 13, 2023

In the dazzling realm of Hollywood, Emily Blunt reigns as one of the most versatile and captivating actresses of our time. With her commanding presence, exquisite acting prowess and undeniable charm, Blunt has etched her name in the annals of cinematic history. 

Emily Olivia Laura Blunt was born on Feb. 23, 1983, in Roehampton, London, England. To help overcome a stuttering problem that she developed at the age of 7, she was encouraged to try acting. Her passion for the arts bloomed, and she later found herself pursuing it as a career.

Blunt's foray into the acting world began with stage plays before she moved to television with roles in dramas such as "Boudica." Her magnetic presence and ability to portray a range of characters with depth and nuance soon caught the attention of both critics and casting directors. In 2004, she made her breakthrough on the silver screen with her standout performance in the critically acclaimed film "My Summer of Love." Blunt's portrayal of a complex and troubled young woman earned her widespread acclaim and served as a launching pad for her subsequent success.

Throughout her career, Blunt has proven her ability to embody diverse roles across various genres, demonstrating her versatility and skill as an actress. In the 2006 film "The Devil Wears Prada," she captivated audiences as the smart and ambitious assistant, Emily Charlton. Blunt's ability to bring depth to her characters became a trademark as she seamlessly transitioned between comedic roles in films such as "The Five-Year Engagement" and more intense, dramatic performances in movies like "Sicario" and "A Quiet Place."

Alongside her remarkable career, Blunt is also a doting mother of two little girls. Read on to find out what changes she's making to her life to keep her responsibilities as a mom in check.

Blunt's remarkable talent garnered numerous accolades throughout her career. In 2019, she won a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role in the musical fantasy film "Mary Poppins Returns." Blunt's ability to infuse warmth, vulnerability, and strength into her characters has made her a favorite among audiences and critics alike, with her performances consistently drawing acclaim and admiration.

Blunt married fellow actor John Krasinski in July 2010, and they welcomed their first child, daughter Hazel Krasinski in 2014 and Violet Krasinski in 2016. Blunt also became an American citizen and told Harper's Bazaar she was "seduced by America's great qualities." She added:

"I have to be, right? My husband's American, my children are American... That's three of my favorite people in the world."

Despite her remarkable career, the topmost in Blunt's mind is always her family. She told the outlet she feels a strong disconnection with her fame and said, "When I see myself up on a billboard, I have this complete dissociation with it... I'm like, who's that? And I can see my children doing the same – they might say, oh, there's Mama, but it's not exciting for them. What's exciting for them is when I can pick them up from school and take them swimming."

She added that even with her hectic movie star schedule, she remained strict about never being away from her daughters for more than two weeks at a time. "Because even though they're hardy, and they're used to this strange life, it's still rough on them when I have to go away," she said.

After starring in a string of films, the star decided to step away from acting temporarily to ensure she doesn't miss too much of her kids' life while they're still young.

Blunt explained her decision to take a year off from acting to Harper's Bazaar as such:

"There are cornerstones of the girls' day that I don't want to compromise on – like, will you wake me up, take me to school, pick me up and put me to bed? And I just want to be able to say, yes, yes, yes. It's such an exhale for me to be able to do that."

She also told the "Table for Two" podcast on July 13, 2023, that no matter what, juggling a career and family wasn't always easy. 

"It's one of those things when people are like, 'How do you balance it?' I never feel like I'm doing it right, you know. But this year I'm not working," she said.

The star explained she felt she had earned to right to a break as she "worked quite a bit last year and my oldest baby is 9 – like we're in the last year of single digits – and I just feel there's cornerstones to their day that is so important when they're little."

She said while some films were more "time-consuming than others, and the ones that are time-consuming I think, for me, are becoming few and further between because of just the emotional cost on me, on the kids, on balance."

She also expressed some guilt over sharing the same feelings many moms have about "God-forbid, wanting something outside of being a mother," yet still wanting to do all the regular mom things.

"And it's, 'Will you wake me up?', 'Will you take me to school?', 'Will you pick me up?', 'Will you put me to bed?' And I just need to be there for all of them. For a good stretch. And I just felt that in my bones," she remarked.

What do you think of Emily Blunt's decision to put her successful career on hold to spend time with her family? Let us know your thoughts, then pass this along to friends and family, too.