TRANSFORMED

The glamorous Hollywood star was made to look dowdy and jaded for her role in the hot new film The Girl On The Train

SHE’S by no means ugly – with her large eyes, sensual mouth and silky chestnut hair she’s usually cast as a striking woman who commands attention in the room. So it came as something of a surprise when she was asked to play a bloated, miserable alcoholic in one of the most anticipated book-to-film adaptations of the year.

“I didn’t even audition – they came to me,” says Emily Blunt (33), who recently starred as the Ice Queen opposite Charlize Theron in The Huntsman: Winter’s War. “I was obviously flattered but also slightly concerned. Nothing says Emily Blunt like a blackout drunk? Oh, perfect!”

But the producers weren’t thinking about her looks – it’s her talent they were after. They believed she was perfect for the lead role in the adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ hit novel The Girl On The Train – and it turns out they were right.

Paula hails Emily’s performance as extraordinary. “I love Emily Blunt,” she says. “Mostly, I thought of her as a comedy actress. I remember her scene-stealing role in The Devil Wears Prada, but she does the most extraordinary job in this.”

Emily plays Rachel Watson, a dowdy, overweight divorcee with a drinking problem who becomes obsessed with a seemingly perfect couple she sees every At the world premiere of Girl On The Train in London (from left): bestselling author Paula Hawkins, director Tate Taylor, Emily and co-stars Luke Evans, Rebecca Ferguson and Haley Bennett. Compiled by NICI DE WET day from the train on her morning commute. When the wife disappears, Rachel has to try to piece together the events to help the police.

On set in the trailer, Emily looks worlds away from her usual glamorous self – gaunt and dishevelled with blemished skin. She was horrified when she saw the transformation. “It was hard seeing myself looking so awful. I came to work with no make-up and they’d make me look even worse, adding rosacea and bags.

“I had full contact lenses that covered my entire eyes for the really drunk stuff. They gave the whites of my eye a bloodshot effect. I loved those contact lenses because they give such a strange glassiness. People look scary when they are really drunk – there’s something in their eyes that’s so crazy.”

THERE’S been criticism along with the praise heaped on her. Some have moaned that the actress, who made it onto FHM’s 100 Most Sexiest List last year, is too beautiful