Actor Emily Blunt tells us that listening to music is like stepping into a time machine. You are always transported back to a particular moment
You were the first and only choice of filmmaker Rob Marshall for Mary Poppins Returns. How did it happen?
I have been friends with Rob Marshall for a while. He called me one day and I knew that there was some sort of a different energy behind that phone call. He was so charged up and excited to tell me the news. I thought for a second that he is going to ask me to marry him (laughs). He said, “Emily, we have been looking for something to do. Now we know, we are going to do the remake of Mary Poppins. I know It’s been more than 50 years since the original film was released but we are doing it.” I just felt my hair sort of like blow back. I was completely shocked but immensely happy. It was such a ceremonious phone call. Later, I realized this was such an iconic character. How much impact she had made on people in the first film. Now I was going to be her, so I was slightly terrified.
First will always remain first. No matter for how many days you shoot. Even now, whenever you remember your first day, it surely brings back all the memories. How would you describe it?
It was full of music and joy. My first day on the set was the animated sequence. I think I really like the character. She just doesn’t care. And Rob Marshall is such an amazing man. He sorts of transports you into the character with such ease. He blares the music so loudly from the speakers that everyone feels it. The whole crew had real fun.
How did you feel in this classic presence of Disney films on set? How was the aura of it?
Honestly, the whole atmosphere on the set was completely bewitching. We all knew we were taking on something completely iconic. But I think Rob has this wonderful way of creating sort of an exquisite intimacy that it didn’t feel overwhelming or bigger than me. Or something that I couldn’t do. He’s very embalming in that way. Every day was imbued with a sense that we were making something very special, unique and important.
What did you tap into when you were going through hard times?
I listen to music. Whenever you hear a piece of music, you are always transported back to that particular moment. It’s like stepping into a time machine. You can feel everything as if you were actually there. I feel everything comes into perspective.
(The film premiers on April 26 at 1 pm on Star Movies.)