Emily Blunt Talks Oppenheimer, the Rock, Superheroes, Edge of Tomorrow Sequel I Happy Sad Confused

Two quick notes about today's episode of Happy Sag Confused. The following conversation with Emily Blunt was recorded prior to the start of the SAG AFTRA strike. In addition, the quality of the audio is somewhat lacking due to circumstances beyond our control. Our apologies. It will be those experiences that will keep me up at night where I don't sleep during a film, but I slept well on Oppenheimer. Maybe it was just because you feel so safe with Chris, you know, you don't have any questions or queries working with him. You know, his instincts are so, are so right. Like his notes are so good. I've never had notes like that in my life. They're so transporting. Prepare your ears, humans. Happy, sad, confused begins now. Today on Happy Sag Confused, I'm Josh Horowitz, and it only took us about 10 years on the podcast to get one of my favorites on. She loves murdering Tom Cruise. She loves singing and dancing. I was parasol. She loves jungle cruises. And most importantly, Emily Blunt loves being in awesome movies like Oppenheimer. Thank you. I saved the day. Yeah, that was good. That was awesome. That was awesome. It's good to see you. You too. I can't believe I've done every kind of manifestation of conversation. Yes. What the heck? Like, have I just said no to your podcast? Like, why? Don't pretend like you haven't been like, no, no. I'm very excited to chat with you today. Thank you. I mean, we could have spent 45 minutes talking about a fun thing like Jungle Cruise. No, you wanted Oppenheimer. I wanted Oppenheimer. Don't tell Dwayne Johnson, but I did. I would have preferred to talk to you about this. What is the ratio of LOLs on the set of Oppenheimer? What's the blooper reel like on Oppenheimer? You know, I think people would imagine it was terribly intense and we all walked around saying we are making an important movie with a capital I, but it didn't feel like that. It felt very warm and fun and joyful. And even though there's the inevitable intimidation factor of working with Chris Nolan and the awareness that you're going to have to tighten the screws on yourself and every single crew member and cast feels that, you know, I don't know how he does it. He creates this rather casual attitude towards it and he'll sort of go, well, you know, you'll talk about the scene a bit, even if it's a big boy, you know, it's going to be a monster scene. And then I'll go, right. OK, happy. Yeah. Ready? Ready to shoot one? OK. Yeah. Let's go. It was just everything is calm. No chaos. So there were plenty of lols on set. Yeah, because I've talked to several actors. I've worked with him over the years and they concur with you in that he does seem to have that big picture. He has the command of the largest scale possible. Yeah. And yet, from my understanding, it actually does feel pretty intimate. It does. It's not a huge imprint of crew once you're actually in the scene. True, true. It just it feels really intimate. It feels warm. And even though we're shooting with these massive cameras, they sort of cease to exist somehow. And Chris himself is a very big guy. He's tall. He's an imposing figure. He'll stand right by the camera and watch you. But I didn't notice him anymore. And so it just I don't know. He's just I think maybe because the set is so focused. Right. I get I'm curious, like, you know, as you progress through the career and you work with different kinds of filmmakers, do you become more picky about the kind of environment you want I always feel open to different kinds of experiences. I become more picky about the directors that I want to work with because I think. It's just the most freeing, exciting thing when you collaborate with someone who sees all of you and you see all of them, and it's when an experience can transcend what the script was, whereas when you work with directors who can be tricky or controlling or there's an ego or a different agenda, it does get in the way of things. There's an override button I feel I have to hit when I work with. Yeah. Yeah. It's just different. It's a different sort of shield you have to adopt. And it's it's it will be those experiences that will keep me up at night where I don't sleep during a film. But I slept well in Oppenheimer. Maybe it was just because you feel so safe with Chris, you know, and you you don't have any questions or queries working with him. You know, his instincts are so are so right. Like his notes are so good. I've never had notes like that in my life. They're so transporting. Is there an example? I can think of none. No funny anecdotes to give you. Here's the question. You've worked with Denis Villeneuve. Yeah. A lot of people sometimes kind of put them in the same. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Are there is there is that an analogy for you in any way? I feel like Denis and Rob Marshall and Chris Nolan, they they all have similar traits to me, which is just like they are incredibly prepared and meticulous in their preparation, uncompromising in that side of things. And they demand and command the best of you. You know, Denis has this wonderful we all thought on Sicario, me and Josh and Benicio, we were like, oh, my God, it's his stick, I think, where he comes in. He's like, I don't know. I don't know about this scene, madam. I haven't had enough coffee. Oh, my God. You know, and it's like this bit he does. And I think he really knows everything. I think he sees the full spectrum of everything. I think it's just stick to make you go, oh, see, I don't have to be scared. You know, and then you see the fully realized. Yes. Oh, this guy's a master. Master. And I think Rob Marshall has the dancer in him where it is just you drill it until it is perfect. There is like a perfectionist to him in so many ways. And yet he both he and Chris and Denis all share this quality, which they're so curious about what the actors are going to do. And they lean into your choices and they're like, what else? What else? Show me. Show me what else. And it just feels so exciting because you're trusted by them. Sicario comes up a lot and justifiably so. Yeah. I mean, it's one of my all time favorites. And I know for you personally, it is one you consider up in that upper echelon. Sure. Yeah. So is that when you talk about working with Denis, is it mostly about the experience of making it, seeing of getting that kind of role to play, of seeing the finished product? Why does that one stand apart for you as one of the top ones for you? I mean, I feel it was I don't know if during it I saw the full scope of what he was doing. I think when I saw it and was so gripped by the throat by it and it was I didn't realize how much you would feel like her as an audience member. I didn't realize that she would bring you into it in the way that she does. And she is as in the dark as the audience are. It is an incoherent world where someone is way over their head and the panic that instills in audiences watching it was so cool and how taut and muscular the whole thing felt when you watched it and how stunning it looked because of Roger Deakins was just beautiful to look at, groundbreakingly so. And so I do see why that one resonates with people. But I'm always sort of I felt that with Oppenheimer. I was absolutely staggered by it when I saw it. I felt like my bones were going to break. I just didn't I had no idea it would move as propulsively and viscerally as it did. It was just stunning. Yeah, I was just saying something. I saw it. I've actually seen it twice. Have you? Yeah. So I've done the podcast actually with Christopher and Killian. Oh, you did good. And it is it's over three hours. You can't deny that. But it is so mesmerizing. I know. His way with I don't know, it rides a wave like you're like riding it up and down throughout. And it's so propulsive. And it is that marriage of sound design. Oh, my God. Yeah. Performance that is just like, yeah, it's why I love going to the movies. Me too. Me too. No, it does. It's a film that just wraps its powerful arms around you and pulls you right into the screen and you feel inside of it and whether you want to be or not. Right. You know. Kitty is a delicious character, I would think. Yeah. There aren't many women I know from that era that the horses and carried a flask. That's cool. She loved a drink. She loved a drink. Yes, should we? A cheeky little flask just nipped into your suit pocket. What would the beverage be in the flask? Tequila. Nice. Of course. Of course. Is it? Wait, is it? Do you go Clooney or do you go Terramana? I mean, listen, I've recently become more into Terramana. George, I love you. I'm just saying I get free Terramana. Like if Clooney wants to send me some free tequila, then we could talk. Now that I think about it, why do they call it Casamigos and Terramana? Just call it Clooney and Rock. Isn't that just an easier shortcut? Yeah, probably. Right? Yeah. Where were we talking about? Oh, Kitty. Yes. So is that? Okay. So again, this is another thing I love about this movie. Look, there's the guy in the poster. He's amazing. Killian holds this all together and it's fantastic to see him utilized in this way. But it is a true ensemble. It reminds me, I said this to Christopher, of like when I was growing up and I saw JFK and every single small character had a lived in embodiment by a great actor. And that for me, it felt like I could watch a movie about any number of these characters. Did that jump off the page that like, it's a supporting character, but you do see it fully realized? Yeah. I mean, there was a ferocity to that character that was there and visceral and exciting. But to me, it speaks to the kind of delicacy and the exquisite writing that Chris Nolan does, which people often overlook because he's such a phenomenal director. It's like, you should never forget what an incredible screenwriter he is as well. And she was so fiery. She was so complicated, riddled with demons herself. And I think it's so cool to play someone who's sort of at war with herself really, and a nonconformist for the 1950s housewife ideal. And I would say, I mean, again, this is all still kind of seeping in after seeing it a couple of times, but like, you know, she's relatable in some ways, especially towards the end of the film, because she is kind of speaking up where like you as an audience member want to defend this man. Well, you're just desperate for someone to fight for him. And he's just been eviscerated and just lacerated by everybody. And he's taking it in this passive way, which must have just infuriated her because she wanted him to fight so much. And it's terribly exciting when she's able to bring that brilliant brain of hers back to life, even though she's become so volatile and unpredictable and fight for him at the end. And you sort of need someone like her to come along and not toe the line, you know? Does that scene jump out on the page? Because that, again, that scene is one of my favorites in the film. It is so powerful and really emotional to watch. Again, I don't want to ruin it for the audience, but she has a meaty kind of like coming to the defense of her husband. Yeah. And I think, I think, you know, yes, when I read it, you know, because the scene was one of those scenes that, you know, is your requirement is to make it impactful. And it was just how it was written. It was. And also the idea that Chris had sort of set her up to supposedly fail and how she's just sort of not walking straight going in there and you're like, oh, my God, she's going to choke. It's going to be a nightmare. And a true testament to their marriage, which as tumultuous as it was, it was successful and she did worship him, you know? And I remember doing that scene with Tony Goldwyn, who is just the best. And he said to me afterwards, he goes, it was so jarring. It was like looking at my mother, who was one of those women who went to waste at the ironing board. And it was startling to see it, you know? And I think I had so much empathy for her because yes, she's a terrible mother and she's not a natural nurturer and she's not terribly nice and she's a total party animal. And, um, but I really recognize that there were a lot of women at the time that didn't want to just be defined by being a mother or being someone's wife. And the deterioration of her is really in support of fostering him, you know? And I just saw her as more than, and Chris did, you know, obviously in how he wrote it, more than a sort of archetypal lady with best sort of wife character. Scaled one to 10, how well do you understand quantum? Minus 350. Um, no, I do not. That's not a requirement necessarily of the job. Generally speaking, when you're, I feel like we all can black it. You know, I think that that's really your job sometimes is just to understand what's ultimately going to be out there on the screen forcefully. Yes, exactly. Exactly. I'm like, I'm exploring the emotionality of the marriage. I know how to do that, but I don't know shit about quantum physics. Come down on the movie star versus actor kind of, it's not a debate, but this is a discussion I've had. What do you think? Well, it's okay. So, uh, uh, an actor who I love and I would argue potentially he's a movie star. Mr. Matt Smith brought this up to me. He plays a game called movie star or actor where when you bring up a human being and you say, is that a movie star or is that an actor? But is one sort of, uh, is, is, is an actor seen as better than the movie I've not in my, I love them both. And I think some definitely tow that line. Like for instance, like Kelly Murphy, this is a movie star performance. He's the center of a giant summer for Nolan movie. But I think generally speaking, it's again, not a slight at all. This is considered first and foremost, an actor, not a movie. I think he would consider himself an actor as well. I think most people would want to consider themselves an actor. No, I don't. I don't know. Gross. I don't know. You assign, you don't like, well, because I just think it to me, a movie star sounds sort of, um, two separate of what we kind of started out doing and why we love it and why I love it. And, um, I guess you could, okay. So for example, I remember one of the first actors who made such an impact on me growing up and it was Julia Roberts who is, you know, was defined as a movie star, but you can't forget her incalculable abilities as an actor and how incredible she was in pretty woman that the reason she's a movie star is because she kidnaps you and pulls you in to this movie because of her phenomenal talents and her charm and her charisma. And like, so I guess I see the two as blending sometimes, you know, when someone's got that wattage to them, it's like, you can't rip your eyes off them. Maybe that's what the movie star thing is, but it's, I see it often as like a blend. I think it also comes with time, right? It's like a lot of folks like Julia Roberts is a good example because like so much of the early conversation is about the charisma, the raw charisma and beauty, et cetera. And then with opportunity and to show different shades of yourself, sure. Okay. Oh, she's, she can be exactly, exactly. But I think Killian would be sort of horrified to be called a movie star, but that's him. I mean, there's like Robert Downey was saying earlier, there's like British reserve and then there's Irish like horror at anyone complimenting, you know? Yeah. Yeah. I respect it. Definitely. Definitely. Um, three points of similarity between Killian Murphy and Dwayne, the rock Johnson. Okay. Charisma. Yes. They both love a drink. Um, great cheekbones. Yes. Mesmerizing eyes. You can get lost in a great set of peepers on them. Would you rather see Killian in a fast and furious movie or Dwayne in Oppenheimer? I want to see Dwayne Johnson rip the face off something in Oppenheimer. I'm telling you, I've told him, I said, you're going to win an Oscar one day. I know it. I want him in the hands of one of the greats he's going to be. And I'm excited. And I think that there's so much to mind there, you know? Cause I've worked with a lot of actors who, you know, a lot of whom are brilliant and, and deemed brilliant. And, and I, but I've never met, like, I, I see DJ and like that same realm of like, he re I just worked with Ryan Gosling. He's a brilliant actor and they both listened so intently. And that's the sign of a great actor as well. Like they're curious, they're looking at you in the scene and like waiting to react. And there's more to being an actor than just revealing the portrait of a person. You know what I mean? There's so much more to it than just making it a self performative scene. It's, it's, it's just so we're self-serving scene. Like they're both great listeners, you know? And I, I remember being struck by that when I met DJ and started working with him, you know, that's probably easy to, to typecast and put them in a box, but I, I guess I just didn't have that experience. Well, I would expect someone like at that level to kind of cocoon themselves off from the world and not be present. And you're right. Like with everyone, that's why he's the most- Yeah, that's why. Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. Um, all right. Let's, since we have a little bit of time, let's go back. Let's talk about- Enough about Dwayne Johnson. Let's talk about little Dwayne Johnson. Let's talk about little Emily. Okay. Uh, little Emily, um, um, lost in her own imagination. Yes. A little shorter. Yes, very much so. Especially without the heels. Yes. Without the heels. Yes. Um, what, I mean, how would you characterize you as a young, like 10 years, 10, 12 years old? What were you like as a kid? What would your parents say what you were like? Um, more internal than I think I am now. Uh, when you're saying 10 or 12, it was when I had a really severe stutter, which was, it impacted what I revealed to the world for sure. Because I was, um, it was so disabling, you know, to, it's, it was such a misrepresentation of who I really was, I think. So it was a particularly hard time that age because it was like I had this sort of imposter living in my body that I couldn't override. And it was tough. It was a tough time. And then it did sort of recede over the years. It got better and better and- Was it connected to anxiety? No, cause it's, it's a stutter is a, is a biological hereditary neurological problem. And it's something I'll always have. And I think I was at my event that I host every year to raise money for, for stuttering therapy. And I realized speaking to other stutters, we all sort of feel the same that I don't think I even know how much verbal gymnastics I do as I talk to you. Maybe I do it all the time and I don't realize how often I'm substituting other words that might be easier to flow or say, or I'm not sure. I'm not sure how much I override hesitations that I'm not even aware of. You just realize how fast the brain works, you know? Um, but I think I was a more internal child. I think I read, I watched people a lot. I've always been fascinated in the human experience. I've always had great empathy for people. I love the shadows of people's lives. I love playing them. So I don't, I wasn't like wanting to be an actress because at the time I was like, well, I have to talk. So how am I going to do that? Right. So it just was so far fetched in my head of an idea, sort of an absurd thought. And then, yeah. When, when it started to gain momentum and the passion kind of manifested, that must have also brought you self-confidence and like a place like, yeah, this feels right. Right. That's what any of us are striving for it, whatever pursuit we're looking for is, is the fuel of comfort. Yeah. And like, what's your place in the world and like, how do you want to be, who do you want to be? And I think I, I would get cast in school plays, but I was probably a bit baffled still. I was like, oh, that's interesting. I wasn't like, this is my moment. Like I don't remember that burning ambition or desire for it. And I'm sure actors kind of hate this story. It did feel like I sort of stumbled into it. I'm so grateful I did because I just adore it. I'm completely madly in love with it and can't imagine doing anything else. But yeah, it was just a slow, it wasn't meteoric or anything, you know? Well, I mean, and it is funny to kind of see big breaks as it were, because like, you know, Devil Wears Prada obviously changed. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. And what I'm thinking back to that, what's funny for that, for me about that is like, obviously, yes, it has Meryl in it, it's now Tucci and Anne. So there is a pedigree, but like, most of those movies aren't great. Let's be like, most movies aren't great. Yeah. So like, you could have been in a shitty rom-com. I could have been in a really shitty one. I auditioned for a lot of them, you know? So it must be, I don't know. I have no point except to say it is a marriage of ambition and talent and dumb luck. Completely. And I think I remember, like, we would be howling with laughter on that set. We thought we were hilarious. I mean, we were always. We're doing it. Guys, we're crushing it. So the bloopers from that movie are my favorites. I mean, we're just endless fun on that set, mainly down to the incredible David Frankel and like what he created for everybody in the environment. But I remember when that movie came out and I had no idea about an opening week and I hadn't even heard that term. And I remember my agent Chris being like, M, it made this on the opening week. And I was like, is that good? Like, is that good? You know? And then it had this culty following and it's still the movie that's quoted to me. I've had two people talk to me about it today, about the Cuba cheese. When you're, when you're out in the wild with John. In the wild. In the wild. Not literally the wild. Like in the world, outside. Yeah. When you exited the cult. Exited the cult. The gates go down the most. Yeah. And I start to get a little bit fearful. Yeah, exactly. More office quotes thrown at you guys or more Devil Wears Prada from you? Office quotes. I mean, it's a religion. And it became even more religion during COVID. I think the office was like on as background comfort and therapy in everyone's homes. It brought people together. And so we emerged outside of COVID and I was like, can you wear two baseball hats? Like, how are we going to get around? You know, I was like, this is, can you wear one on your face? You know, we can't go anywhere. What level of fan is appropriate for the spouse of the star of The Office to be? Like, there's a tipping point. You want to be a supporter and a fan, but you don't want to be. Like a super fan, like fanatical. You want to mask it. No, I'm a massive fan of that show. Hugely. Really? Yeah. Not too far. What's your favorite episode? Don't ask me that. I don't know the names of them. You know, he's barely watched any of them after season five. I feel like he's barely seen any of them. He doesn't really watch Jack Ryan, doesn't want to watch any of it. And it's not that precious thing I can't watch myself. I think he's just like, oh, I did it. I did it. Yeah. You and Leonardo DiCaprio are the only two actors that have not worn spandex. No, that's not true. Ryan Gosling? Gosling wants to though. Have you talked to Gosling? No, he doesn't. I swear to God he doesn't. No, he doesn't. I asked him about it. He doesn't. Who does he want to play? He wants to play. He told me, I was looking for Greyman last year, and he's like a ghost rider. He's like a big old geek. He's such a dork. I'm going to really have beef with him about that. I was like, me and you, Ryan. No, I thought we were like wearing it as a badge of honor. He was playing it cool with you. He's trying to impress you. What about Emma Stone? Emma Stone has not played a superhero. See? So look, as far back as we've been talking, I have been like festering you like many about, are you going to play Captain Marvel? That's my voice when I ask those questions. Oh, it's a great voice. That's your nerdy voice. That's my actual voice. Years of therapy, I've gotten this. This is your new voice. Yeah. So, okay, over the years, let's see. There's been talk of Captain Marvel. Yep. Peggy Carter. Sue Storm. And Black Widow is real. I mean, you were cast as Black Widow. Kind of, sort of. Come on, the best girl got it. The best girl. I'm not saying that she didn't. She was amazing, but circumstances. Gulliver travels. Which was such a great film. It was a great junket. Oh, that was a fun junket. Yeah. So were any of the other ones remotely real besides Black Widow? Rumors, talk, queries, that kind of thing. Would she be interested, hypothetically? But no, you never did the Kevin Feige meet. No. Not on any of those ones, no. Okay. Yeah. I feel so on the spot. I feel like heart palpitations right now. Did you watch John play Mr. Fantastic finally? Yes. You saw the movie? I saw his bit. I was like, okay. Oh, there you are. Yeah. What was the name of the movie that he was in? Was it Doctor Strange? I did. Oh, yeah. Okay. It was Doctor Strange, right? Don't. You can't. I'm the worst person to be asked about this stuff. No, but you don't have to pretend to be a superhero person. It's cool to be what you are. Yes, but I can recognize that it is a religion and I don't want to, you know. Does it feel like there's closure in the house? Does he feel good? Because there's been so much talk for years. Does he feel like he, like... I think he thought it was fun. I mean, it was fun for him to pop in and do that. But for you, I mean, it is an amazing thing that, yes, okay, it's you, Leo, Emma, and Gosling. Although Gosling's now on the fence, which... Yeah, Gosling is going to wear a cape at some point. What a turncoat it is. I always knew that about him. But, I mean, that is a nice place to be where you don't have to be reliant on, quote unquote, franchises. Yes. Right? Wait, Tom Cruise hasn't done a superhero, has he? I'm going to start... I know, there's more than you think. There's more of us people than you think. We don't speak up enough. But I guess my question is, do you feel any of that kind of pressure to have, like, I got a franchise going here and I'm going to return to this character? No, because I don't like to take things on thinking they could be a franchise. I mean, I don't tend to do that. And I don't have any strategy to it. I just don't. I don't know why. I love what I love. And I hope for the best every time. I mean, it's sort of the leap into the great unknown with every film you take on. I can see when I read a script, some things are inevitably more commercially viable than others. It will not be the reason for me doing it, you know? As of tomorrow? Yes. Which never is going to be a conversation we don't have because... It's the best. The best. Is the memories of the Exo... Exosuit. Exosuit, thank you. Memories of Exosuit, like pregnancy, like you forget how bad it was? No, I don't forget. No, my back still tweaks out on me sometimes. You know, I'll, like, turn funny in the car and I'll just be like, Tom Cruise. Cruise? Cruise! Should we stop, though? Should I stop asking you about a sequel? I don't want to... No, because, I mean, I wish there could be one. Have you ever read a script? Yeah. You have? Have I ever read a script? Yes, yes, yes, we did. Okay. There was one that Doug kind of slung, slithered over to me and like... But I mean, I would love to make it a reality, but I just don't know when or how. And how many Mission Impossibles does he need? I know. Come on! There's always another cliff to jump off of. Come back to the side where you can be a, you know... Wasn't he brilliant as the cowardly hero? He was amazing. Oh! Incredible. You just wanted her 20 more times. I know. I couldn't bear it. I adored him. He was the best. So you are not the impediment. You're ready. I'm so ready. I'm not the impediment, I promise. Okay. Promise. Would you trust Doug Liman to send you into space? Because they're supposedly going to do a movie where he goes into space. Oh, yeah. I love Doug Liman, but he's a madman. He's a madman. He once said, Hey, I'm flying to Martha's Vineyard in my plane this weekend. Maybe we could discuss The Edge of Tomorrow 2 on the plane. And I was like, never. Wait, and he's going to be flying? Yeah, I was like, never. While he's flying? Yes. Yeah, no, no, no. No, it's a no. I think, I wonder who's more scared to go to space, Tom or Doug. I wonder who's... Tom would never. He has no fear. He has no fear. He's missing the chip. This is a really sore point for me. Okay. The coconut cake has become an obsession for me. Have you never got it? I hosted the Mission Impossible premiere this year. I hosted the Top Gun premiere last year. I've interviewed Tom many times. We've had lots of LOLs. Have you told him? No, because you don't want to be the guy that's like, Hey, can I be on the coconut cake? He would prefer... Tom likes people to be direct. I guess I'm not that guy. You've got to speak your mind. You can't put in a good word. You can't... I mean, can you imagine? Would you be so thrilled if you got a coconut cake this year? Honestly, like, make me cry. It is such a good cake. That's not going to work. It is such a good cake. How many people do you speak to that get the cake and you like... So many. I'm talking to Hallie Atwell tomorrow. You think I'm not going to bring it up with her? She probably gets two cakes. She's working with him right now. Take it up with him. She's on the active. She's on the circuit. But you're on the list. I mean, once you're in, you're in forever. That's the whole thing. It's true. It's true. That's why you've got to get on this. Um, A Quiet Place. Yes. This will also always hold a special place for a number of reasons, I would imagine. Yes. I know the reception caught you guys off guard. Yes. Working with John. Yes. Talk to me a little bit about what's... I mean, in the production of it, was it surprising actually working that close with John, given that you had never done it before? Was it a surprising experience for you? I think we had sort of anticipatory fear about the idea of it because you don't know, right? And I think people are different people when they're at work. And we knew each other in a domesticated sense. And I think you're just a slightly different version of yourself when you're at work. And what would that be like? And we knew we wouldn't have the diplomacy that you would. You have a shorthand. You have a secret language. Your fuse might be shorter. Your patience might be different. It's all of these elements that you share with your partner. And how would that be interpreted on set? So I also, though, I didn't know he knew what to do with a camera. I mean, you're a smart guy. I truly, before we started shooting, was like, do you know how to shoot this movie? Do you know what a lens is? And he was very humble. He goes, I think I do. And then we got on set and I was just like staggered by him. I was so in awe of him and amazed that he could shoot like that and how visual he was. And he's an actor. He knows how to talk to actors. And I think maybe during that experience, as much as we complement each other off sets, you know, in all of each other's work, maybe I felt the full measure of what he thought of me as an actor. And that was so moving, you know, because I got to experience that first hand, his reactions to whatever I might have done. And it was really cool. It was really cool. And I think everyone thought we'd be divorced by the end of it. And then they're like, you're making another one? Can your marriage take it? You know, I think I think the only thing and the reason why I'm taking a breather from it for a while is it's just because those movies were like a wild horse in our house. You know, they just, you know, another family member. And it takes over so much. And you don't have the opportunity to go, how was your day? Because you saw it and you lived it. And I'm so proud of the movies, like superlatively proud of the movies. I can't even tell you, but I'm proud of him. And also thrilled that the world found out what I knew of him, which was that he had sort of soaring abilities that hadn't been recognized to their full extent. So I was really thrilled by after that South by reaction. You know, it was just the coolest thing to wake up the next day and I could see that he'd been invited into the Sanpit in a way that he'd been craving. And it was just the coolest. I just saw your poster for Millicent in a play last night. John's going to see it next week. I know. Cool. Was she awesome? Yeah. Good. Who was the actor you stole it from at Quiet Place? You said that it was intended for a friend of yours. Oh, I can't. I'll never tell. I mustn't. I've never said it. Anne Hathaway. No. Blake Lively. Sienna Miller. Do they know? Come on. Do you know all of my friends? I got three of them. They know. It's an in joke. And they're cool with it? They're cool with it. Yeah. They knew not to get in front of that train, you know? Lupita has shot kind of the side story. Yes, yes. But the intent is at some point to finish the trilogy with your cast? Well, Killian and I were having a chat with John about it last night. We were sitting on a rooftop all together drinking wine and... You know what would be good? You know what would be great? We keep this thing going. I think there's... It would have to be that we would all do it together. I don't want it to be with a different director. If we did it again, yeah. It's been a while since you've done theater. A long while. I know. Have you ever done theater here in New York? Never. I only did it in England for like the first year of my professional life. That's hard to say. My professional life. Look, you're a busy lady. You're highly in demand. You're a mom. There's a lot going on. But is that on the list still? Of course. Do you want to hear my reason? It's a real one. I don't want to miss bedtime every night. I know it's the thing that gives me anxiety. I can't do it yet. I'm not ready for that. I know, but it's true. It makes me emotional thinking about it. Trying to be snarky and silly and you had to bring it there. I know. I'm bringing it right there. You can't argue with that, all right? No, I can't. I have no resort to that. Have you retired from auditioning? When was the last time Emily Blunt actually had to audition for a role? I auditioned for Rob Marshall for Into the Woods. And by the way, I didn't want to. I was terrified. And I'd said no to auditioning for him for nine. And for something because I didn't want to sing in front of anyone. And I'd said no to auditioning for Into the Woods. And then he called Chris Andrews, my amazing agent. And he said, she's coming in. I'm not looking for singers who can kind of act. I want actors who can kind of sing. Just bring her in. There's no pressure. We're just going to sing a song and I'm going to talk to her. And that was it. And it just made it sort of open-ended and cozier than I had anticipated it being. And it's become a lifelong collaboration and friendship. And I want to do everything with Rob. He was just with us. He and John came to us for Fourth of July. They're uncles to my children. It has become one of the most profound relationships of my career working with him. Were you back in the day like an anxious auditioner? Did you see it as an opportunity? Or did you dread it? No, I didn't dread it that much. I mean, I would dread it if I had to sing or something. But I did see it as an opportunity always, yeah. I didn't mind auditioning. I quite liked it. I mean, I would be nervous. I would feel terrified. But I didn't mind that feeling. I think the smartest thing that some actor said to me over the years is like, it's a switch in your head. Do you see it as an opportunity? Are you getting to act for somebody? And they're sort of willing you to be it. Don't think they're willing you to fail. They want to find it. Right. One of my favorite pieces of IMDb trivia I've ever seen on an actor is in your bio. Okay. Do you fear gloves? Yeah, I don't love a glove. I don't love a glove. Sort of slithering your hands into something and just like slither. It's my favorite word. Sienna Miller started introducing me to the word slither. And now we say it to each other all the time. So now it's just like right on the tip of my tongue. She talks about people just being like, I just saw him sort of slithering into the room. She says it so much we now call each other slither. It's like the best. There's another on the IMDb. Is boop an actual... It's what my mom calls me. Yeah, I know. My dad calls me peanut. My mom calls me boop. I know I'm killing you with this stuff. I'm crushing this. It's the 10 years was worth the wait. Any kind of glove? Is it like those long opera gloves? Yeah, definitely the long opera gloves I could do without. And then, I mean, listen, I live in New York. So in the middle of winter, I'm going to be putting on some mittens. But I'd take a mitten over some gloves. Right, right. Yeah. You mentioned working with Ryan. Yes. How was the Fall guy? He spent probably a long time in Australia with David Leitch. Amazing David Leitch. Just the greatest guy. The greatest guys, plural. They were wonderful to me. And it was just a joy bond. The whole thing. I absolutely adored it. It's a big, entertaining, sweeping, epic love story of like, as we say the line in the movie, of cosmic proportions. So it was cool. It's a celebration of making movies. It was just, it was beautiful. Wait, do you play a director? I do, yeah. Did you base it on? On John. I didn't say it. Am I Chris Nolan, Denis Villeneuve? I feel a bit more like Denis in it. I think maybe I'm a bit more of a Denis in it. Sort of pretending I don't really have it together. A little more erratic and. Got it. Yeah, eccentric maybe. I mean, I'm of the age that I grew up with that show. What a show. Great theme song. Yeah. Is the theme song in the film? Maybe. Ryan is so epic in it. He's fantastic. Oh my god, he's hilarious. He's your competition, are you? He really is. I mean, this whole Barbie thing, this Barbinheimer thing. I'm sure you've been after that a lot. I'm loving it. We're all loving it. Because I think ultimately we want everyone to go back to it. Go see the double bill. If you want the steak dinner and the sundae, have them both. What's the recommendation for you? What do you start with? I mean, I would say do Oppenheimer first. Then go metabolize it. Yeah. And then if you need a sort of, you know. I think that's smart because you want to be focused. You want to be focused, clear. You don't want to start that at 9 p.m. really. You know, just, yeah. Do you share, you know, Gosling likes an amusement park. Does he? Yeah, he's a big Disney guy. You should use your, like, Mary Poppins in. I know. I could get him some freebies, but I won't because, you know. Because he's betrayed you. He's betrayed me. He lied to you, okay. Go ask Marvel for some freebies, you know what I mean? Mr. Ghost Rider. You also worked with the painfully uncharismatic Chris Evans recently. Oh, the worst. Pain Hustlers is coming out later this year. David Yates, another one of those, like, amazing. Amazing. Faculties, but he's, like, the calmest, sweetest man. Yes, he's the sweetest man. He's such a brilliant storyteller. And the movie's great. It's set to the backdrop of the opioid crisis. And it's really, it's about this down and out single mother who sort of gets pulled into the intoxicating world of selling pharmaceuticals. And it's a morality play. It's about how far do you go, you know. And at what point do you, do you, at what point do you sort of recognize all the lies you're telling yourself in the pursuit of success, you know. So it's about that, it's a, it's a take on the American dream and a cautionary tale, really. Do you, are you one of those kind of actors that kind of keeps, like, the list of filmmakers that you're? Want to work with? Yeah, I mean, like. I mean, there's a few I would love to, you know. I'd love to work with, like, Paul Thomas Anderson. Like, I'd love to work with Scorsese. I'd love that. Never had the Marty meeting? No. Does he know I haven't played a superhero? Like, stop casting Leonardo. I haven't played one either. Not with the Leonardo DiCaprio thing. I mean, come on. He's brilliant, isn't he? He's one of my favorites. He's the best. Besides Bake Off and Shark Tank. Okay. Anything else you're watching lately? Do you know what I love? Is Breakpoint on Netflix. All the tennis players. Oh, I've heard of it. Definitely worth it, yeah. Get involved. The only two people I know that are obsessed with Shark Tank are my mom and you. And me. I knew I loved your mother. What's your mother's name? Barbara. Of course it is. I love it. Oh, I love that. Do you have dreams of bringing a brand? Bringing a product to the Sharks? What's wrong? Like a tequila brand. Compete with Dwayne. Every celebrity needs alcohol. No, I don't have an interest in it. Not really. Who can be the next J-Lo? No. Who can be the next J-Lo? There's no one coming for that crown. E-Blue. You heard it here. But what would E-Blue be? Glue. So no products. No products. No, no products. Let's do the Happy Second Feast Profoundly Random Questionnaire. Okay. So wait, what do I do? You can answer a few random questions for me. Okay. What do you collect? Sneakers. White sneakers. Yes. Last actor you were mistaken for? Oh my god. It was someone good. It was a girl from, uh... It's okay. Is it the Gilded Age? What's it called? Oh, uh, Carrie Coon? No. No, it was one of those shows. It was, um, it was, uh... What's the one? Bridgerton. Someone said, I love you in Bridgerton. I said, thank you. Yes, you were excellent in Bridgerton. I don't know who it was. That's okay. I'm wrapping up, I promise. No, no, you can do... He's fine. He can do all his questions. Do it, do it. Worst note a director has ever given you? Can you do it more like this person? And point it to the actor I was working with. And my dear friend, she is one of my dear friends, she went, because she was so horrified for me, I think. That was one of the worst notes I ever got. How did you react? Did you take it in stride? I think I, at that point, was so sick of bad notes that I went, yeah, okay. I kind of knew what the person meant, but kind of was so upset. There's a better way of saying, can you just be a bit more like this person? What's a podcast that you would create for yourself to host? Is there a subject that you would actually be a good podcast host for? I always want to know what scares people. Yeah. Does that seem sort of basic? No, no, no. There's nothing basic about you. Yeah. Last thing, I know they're kicking me out. Happy, sad, confused. An actor that always makes you happy? Robin Williams. Movie that makes you sad? Shadowlands. Oh, that's good. Yeah. Oh, it's a weep, weep fest. And a food that makes you confused? Burritos. What? They're so sludgy and yet sort of satisfying. It's so slithery. I think a burrito is like sludgy, but also sort of great sometimes, but could be terrible in equal measures as being delicious. So I'm endlessly confused. No, it's just like mush. It's just like pudding. I don't love it. We ended badly. Oh, we ended badly. That was it. I'll see you in another 10 years. Yes, please. No, sooner, sooner, sooner. Thank you for the time today. Of course. I always love catching up. The movie is truly exceptional. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you. And keep doing bedtime. I guess we'll wait for theater. Done. See you soon. And so ends another edition of happy, sad, confused. Remember to review, rate and subscribe to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a big podcast person. I'm Daisy Ridley and I definitely wasn't pressured to do this by Josh.