An episode with . . .
Michele Manelis talks to Emily Blunt about her new film, A Quiet Place
Watching the movie, I was thinking about your husband [John Krasinski] directing you, particularly in the childbirth scene. Did you give him some suggestions?
Yes. I said, “You have no idea what it feels like to give birth, so let me just take the reins on this one!” It was incredibly helpful that I had gone through two births, so there was a lot to draw on. It was the most draining sequence, the most physically demanding sequence and the most gut wrenching sequence to shoot.
This movie is very intense, particularly on the subject of protecting one’s children. That must have been difficult to play as a mother?
Well, the emotional core of the film was the reason for me wanting to jump in it. I was also intimidated by the idea of playing a character who experiences my own deepest fears as a mother, of not being able to protect my children. That’s ultimately why
I’ve watched Jaws 30 times. It’s not about the shark chomping off people’s legs, it’s about these three men trying to overcome something.
John has said in the past that you wanted to keep your work separate from each other. Apparently that idea didn’t stick.
True! We had a lot of whiskey on this film. Most nights were rounded with a stiff drink of whiskey. And it was really nerveracking, the prospect of working together, if I am honest, because we didn’t know how our processes were going to align and whether we were going to crash heads too much. But then we realised that we have the ultimate trust. That was exhilarating.
What do you think about living in a world of complete silence?
I do actually enjoy my own silent company. My life is pretty loud and dialogue-heavy because I am constantly negotiating with my two children. So when I get to drive in a car, I don’t even listen to music. It’s nice just to have complete peace and serenity.
Did you always intend to move to the US when your career was starting in London?
To be honest with you, I don’t believe starting out that I was a terribly ambitious actress. I came into it kind of late and I did not have the burning desire during my childhood to be an actress. I was going to go to university — my mother is great linguist, so I wanted to be just like her. I wanted to do modern languages and be a translator.
So, what happened? I fell into it. An agent saw a school play and said, “Oh, you are good. You should do this.” I was 17 and I remember I just shrugged my shoulders, and not to sound cavalier about it, it just wasn’t in my plan. I remember doing my first job and it was with Judi Dench. It was so thrilling and I said to my agent, “I am getting $400 a week, oh my God!” I had never seen that much money
in my life. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was.
What was it like to watch the film with John? It must be like giving birth to a different kind of baby?
Yes. We spent the whole night holding each other’s hands and shaking with laughter. It was just an extraordinary experience watching the film with an audience who were screaming at the screen. It was so cool to see all the things we felt about the film realised. We just were crying with laughter. It was so cool.
You said that you both got along so well making this film. In what areas do you not mesh well? Time management skills. I am very good at planning when you leave for the airport, and John has zero concept of date or time and is always late, and just has no idea. So he calls me “time mode”. I get in a time mode with things like going to the airport and I cease to be any fun and I don’t speak to him. Because he is usually packing his bag at 5am when I have planned it for two days — that is probably the thing we differ on the most.
You always look so impeccable, even down to your shoes.
Well, I avoid heels as much as possible. I live in Brooklyn and it’s really a walking city and we don’t have a car so I walk everywhere, so I don’t really wear heels very much. And I certainly have more fun when I am not wearing heels.
Would friends describe you as the life of the party? Well, it depends if I have had enough tequila. Tequila is the drink that can make me the life and soul of a party but I actually have never been good with a big group of people. I have always preferred a smaller couple of girlfriends, or John and I go out with another couple who we love. Those are always the best nights for me now. The idea of going to a club or a bar now, that is not on my bucket list.