The Magic Of Emily

The Star On Family, Fame And A Most Delightful Role.

- Judy Kean

It’s a daunting prospect, playing a legendary character who for decades has been associated with a much-loved actress.

So it’s no surprise Emily Blunt had a moment of dread when she was asked to play Mary Poppins in the long-awaited sequel to the classic Julie Andrews film. But she quickly realised she had to tackle the role her own way and not try to copy her predecessor.

“No-one can out-Julie Julie Andrews, so I had to do something that felt organic and representative of what I had taken from the books. Even though I had seen the film as a child, I decided not to watch it when prepping.

“She [Mary] was so clear to me from reading that I decided not to be intimidated by the iconic Julie Andrews in the role and just approach it as I would any other part.”

Emily’s Mary in the movie Mary Poppins Returns is based more on the character in PL Travers’ books, and is more vain, capricious and enigmatic than the Julie Andrews version in the 1964 film.

“She thinks she is better than everyone else – which she is.”

Emily also used a fast-talking journalist portrayed by Rosalind Russell in the 1940 comedy film His Girl Friday as inspiration. “She’s like a tornado,” explains Emily. “I went, ‘That’s it, that’s the pace’.”

Filming the movie had its challenges. Scenes of Mary flying into London on the end of a kite involved Emily (35) being suspended from a crane.