Emily Blunt felt the weight of responsibility when stepping into the shoes of a real person for her latest film, The Smashing Machine, per film-news.co.uk. In the biographical sports drama, Blunt stars as Dawn Staples, the former girlfriend of UFC champion Mike Kerr, played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. This marks the first time the acclaimed actress has portrayed a living person, and she was determined to do justice to Dawn’s story.
“You know you’re gonna have to rip your rib cage open on something like this,” Blunt told Porter magazine. “It’s quite scary to put your feet to the fire: am I gonna do it justice? And the other fear is that these people are still living, and you’re holding the beating hearts of their lives on a screen.”
Blunt’s empathy for Dawn, who was deeply entangled in Kerr’s life and struggles with addiction, was a major draw to the role.
“My empathy for her was vast because it’s a cage, addiction, and she was in it with him,” Blunt explained. “I was really drawn to being her advocate in such a machismo-dominant world.”
The actress was grateful for Dawn’s openness and willingness to connect, which helped her understand the complexities of their relationship.
While Blunt found the experience deeply satisfying, she was particularly proud to witness her co-star, Dwayne Johnson, take on a serious dramatic role.
“This is a man who’s never allowed to disappear, and it’s so moving for me as his friend, and as an actor, to watch someone discover what they’re capable of,” she praised.
The Smashing Machine, which recently premiered at the Venice Film Festival, is set for a US release on October 3.
•Featured image: Emily Blunt/Alessandra Benedetti/Corbis via Getty
