Emily Blunt, and the Story of How I'm Definitely Part British

I created this little blog mostly for myself, and beyond that I’m pretty sure it consists of three readers (including me). Even still, I feel like it’s important that I make one thing clear before I continue. Given the state of this country and all that is happening, I know my voice is not the most important one right now. I will continue to educate myself, to donate, to sign petitions, and to protest. I am merely here to be a supporting act, not the star of this revolutionary show. 

At the same time, I am also a writer at heart, and I always have been, and I always will be. So, I’m going to continue what I started here because writing brings me joy. And levity. And it also keeps me grounded. And if you happen to be one of the other two readers, I hope it brings you some joy, and some levity, and helps you remember that your feet, too, are on the ground with mine. 

Without further ado, I present to you Emily Blunt, and the Story of How I’m Definitely Part British: 

I keep a running list of blog ideas— you know, when inspiration strikes, I write it down, and then I write it out later. I had no intention of writing this blog post in particular— it was not on the running list of blog ideas— but I debuted with John Krasinski and the obsession has inevitably spilled over. The man is only in so many movies. 

I’m also aware that I just explained not too long ago how I could very well be from the South. That remains true, but there is another part of me that should absolutely be British. Maybe I have an affinity for accents. Maybe it’s Maybelline. 

When I was about nine or ten, I went through a phase where I only talked in a British accent. I’m not saying it was a good British accent, but I remained committed to it nonetheless. Kate Middleton married Prince William right around that same time, but I honestly don’t think that had anything to do with it. For whatever reason, I’m still surprised to this day when that woman opens her mouth and sounds British. With all the pictures my ten-year-old self had seen of her, I think I had just subconsciously decided she sounded like me. Which is ironic, because I was talking in a British accent. 

You should also know that I’ve never been to London. I’ve actually never been to England, or Europe at all. I had all these grand plans in place to visit London for the first time in May, as soon as the school year let out at BU. One of my favorite people in the whole entire world goes to music school there (it is indeed just as cool as it sounds) and I was all ready to go crash the party. Just go ahead and add that to the running list of plans that corona ran over with a bus. A red double-decker, in this case specifically. 

I could add the fact that I love Harry Potter to this explanation you didn’t ask for (side note here— I’ve seen many tweets circulating about how Daniel Radcliffe actually wrote the books and how J.K. Rowling really blew a 7 book, 8 movie lead. In light of recent events, I cannot say I disagree with either statement), but I really don’t think that’s very unique of me anymore. It’s like my brother thinking he’s the biggest fan of The Office, you know? Clearly that’s me. I also pronounce “Hermione” so wrong I refuse to say her name anywhere that’s not the inside of my head. I dressed up as her for Halloween when I was in second grade. I had yet to read the books, but that was also the last time I had long hair. Like I said, it’s all about the commitment. None of that matters, though, because even then I thought her name had an extra “r” sound right in the middle. Her-my-or-nee. Us Boston folk are supposed to drop the “r’s” from everything we say. Maybe we can count this as a win for British Alex after all. 

The thing is, though, American Emily Blunt is really just as charming as British Emily Blunt, so I’m not even sure we can attribute the charm she oozes to the accent. Most recently, I watched her play an FBI agent working to fight the war on drugs in Sicario (2015). She had her american accent in full swing, and not only was she more articulate than I, but I don’t know many charming, drug-war-fighting FBI agents. It really doesn’t compute, I know, but I promise it’s true. 

If you’ll remember, I said Karen Fairchild makes me want to dye my hair darker. Well, Emily Blunt is naturally a brunette, too, but her hair is currently this beautiful blonde color. She also has blue eyes like me. Maybe I just felt like it was less of a stretch than Karen’s dark locks. I was lucky enough to be able to schedule a hair appointment with my local hair stylist last week (all necessary precautions followed, fear not). Point is, I’m now blonde. 

For your reference:

Emily Blunt at the premiere for A Quiet Place 2 | Jason Mendez/Getty Images

​Well, for your reference of what I look like in my head, anyway. And, you know what they say. Change your hair color and you change your life. 
I’m just kidding. I don’t think a single person says that. I didn’t wake up the next day an award-winning actress or married to John Krasinski, so even if they do say that, they lie. 

Blunt was supposed to be in two movies premiering only four months apart from each other this year. The sequel to A Quiet Place, aptly named A Quiet Place Part II, was due to be released in March, right as the pandemic really shut down the United States. Now, the sequel is due in theaters in September, although I’m sure that could still change. The second film, Jungle Cruise, after the Disney ride of the same name, co-stars Blunt alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Instead of premiering this July as scheduled, the movie won’t be released until NEXT July. Again, plans, meet double-decker bus. 

Movies aside, the youngest of Blunt’s two daughters is named Violet. My great-grandmother was also named Violet. She hated her name. Hated it. Loathed it entirely. I happen to love it. And apparently so did Emily Blunt. So, now we just have to hope that Emily Blunt is the last person to love it before I have the chance to use it. I always loved being the only girl Alex at school growing up. What a bummer to have to be Violet K. or Violet M. (I say that like I wasn't Alex R. in kindergarten anyway). 

I most definitely am not part British, nor am I Emily Blunt, try as hard as I may. The good news is (see what I did there) having an American husband may just help some of the Boston rub off on her. 
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If I can fake the blonde hair and British accent, and she continues to wear a Red Sox hat, maybe we can just— perhaps— call it even. ​