Emily Blunt.Photo:Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for American Institute for Stuttering
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for American Institute for Stuttering
Filming her upcoming thriller was like being at summer camp forEmily Blunt.
On Monday, the actress, 40, opened up to PEOPLE about shootingOppenheimerwithOscarwinnerMatt Damon— whom she also revealed is her neighbor — ahead of hosting the American Institute for Stuttering’s17th Annual Benefit Galain New York City.
“Matt Damon and I go back years back,” said Blunt, who rocked a red lace dress and matching heels at the event. “Matt lives in our building, actually, so we would hang out a lot."
“It was like being at camp!” she added. “We were in the middle of the Mexican desert at some hotel in the middle of nowhere, and we were all together making this extraordinary film.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Emily Blunt and Matt Damon.John Shearer/Getty Images
John Shearer/Getty Images
Oppenheimeris based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography titledAmerican Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Blunt stars as the titular character’s wife Kitty Oppenheimer, while Damon, 52, takes on the role of Leslie Groves, a lieutenant general and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officer.
The actress continued of her on-screen husband, 47, “Me and Cillian are like thick as thieves because we worked together before [onA Quiet Place Part II] and I adore him. We have a lot of trust between us. So I spent the most time with Cillian.”
She added of the film, which also starsRobert Downey Jr.,Florence Pugh,Rami Malek,Kenneth BranaghandJosh Hartnett, “You’re gonna love it. It’s so incredible, this movie. I’m so excited.”
Cillian Murphy and Matt Damon inOppenheimer(2023).Universal Studios
As for what attracted her to the role of Kitty, the actress told PEOPLE she loved the challenge that playing her posed.
“She’s such a big personality. She’s kinda lethal,” Blunt said. “She did not conform to the ‘50s housewife ideal. Welove a nonconformist. And she was such a confidant for him and fiery and smart and troubled. Not an easy person. So I guess I saw her because she was a challenging person; it was a great challenge for me to take her on as a character.”
Blunt’s real-life husband, actorJohn Krasinski, was unable to attend the gala with his wife on Monday, with the mom of two revealing thatThe Officealum has had his head down working.
“He’s editing,” theDevil Wears Pradastar said. “He’s editing right now because he directed a film last year. So he’s in, like, a dark cave right now.”
Emily Blunt.Craig Barritt/Getty Images for American Institute For Stuttering
Craig Barritt/Getty Images for American Institute For Stuttering
During her chat with PEOPLE, Blunt also opened up about her continued support of the AIS. The star previously revealed that her grandfather, uncle and cousin all had a stutter,and she noticed it in herselfwhen she was around 6 or 7 years old.
“It’s such a moving organization,” she said. “Theyapproach this disability with their arms open, and they’re all about self-compassion and emboldenment for people.”
“So it keeps me coming back because they’re the most amazing, warmhearted people,” she added. “They’re my people. I get them. I was them. So it’s a joy, truly.”
Oppenheimeris in theaters July 21.
source: people.com
