‘You Know You’re Gonna Have To Rip Your Rib Cage Open’: Emily Blunt Gets Real About The Challenges Of Telling Real People’s Stories In The Smashing Machine

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Emily Blunt has been a well-established film star for many years, known for her impactful roles. But it appears that audiences may witness a new facet of her acting talent when her upcoming movie with Dwayne Johnson, the 2025 biopic titled “The Smashing Machine“, premieres in October. In this film, Blunt plays the girlfriend-turned-wife of Johnson’s real-life UFC fighter, Mark Kerr. She has been candid about the high levels of intensity required to bring her character to life.

What Did Emily Blunt Say About Her Role In The Smashing Machine?

In natural and easy-to-read language, the sentence could be rephrased as follows: Emily Blunt has portrayed a variety of roles over her two-decade film career, including a snarky fashion magazine assistant (which she’ll reprise in the 2026 movie, “The Devil Wears Prada 2”), an adventurous woman in “Jungle Cruise” (her first collaboration with Dwayne Johnson, with a stalled sequel), the wife of a renowned physicist in the megahit “Oppenheimer” (which earned her an Oscar nomination), and numerous other parts. However, it seems that none of these roles compare to Dawn Staples, whose true story she will assist in telling in the upcoming A24 film, “The Smashing Machine.

In her relationship with Mark Kerr during his journey to prominence as a mixed martial arts fighter, Staples significantly features in his narrative, as his notoriety escalated and steered him towards a chaotic journey marked by addiction. During an interview with Net-A-Porter about the film, Blunt candidly discussed the challenges of portraying someone trapped within the confines of another person’s addiction alongside their troubled partner, and stated:

1. In her relationship with Mark Kerr during his rise to fame as an MMA fighter, Staples plays a substantial role in his story, as his popularity surged and led him down a tumultuous path that involved addiction.

2. As the partner of Mark Kerr during his ascent to prominence as a mixed martial arts star, Staples is an integral part of his tale, as his celebrity status escalated and propelled him towards a chaotic journey marked by addiction.

3. In her romantic relationship with Mark Kerr during his climb to fame in the MMA world, Staples forms a considerable segment of his narrative, as his stardom soared and led him down a turbulent path that included addiction.

In simpler terms, the role I played required me to step out of the typical portrayal of a movie girlfriend, and the relationship depicted was far from conventional. It felt like navigating through a complex storm system. The challenge was daunting as it demanded intense emotional investment, which made me question if I could do it right. In other words, it was a scary proposition to truly immerse myself in such a demanding role.

In simpler terms, Blunt’s experience dealing with emotional trauma, particularly from being in a relationship with someone battling addiction, could be compared to tearing open one’s own chest cavity. This vivid metaphor highlights the intense struggle Blunt faced and the challenging life Staples lived during her time with Kerr.

In a seemingly uncanny turn of events, when Johnson expressed his intention to create something rugged and intense with this specific character, he also confessed his yearning to lay himself bare on screen and prove he could offer more than the usual macho action hero. Blunt further emphasized the difficulty of the role for her, and commented additionally.

Another concern arises because these individuals are alive, and we’re essentially displaying the pulse of their existence on a screen. We strive to treat them with respect, given all that they’ve endured in life.

In simpler terms, the actor from the movie “Edge of Tomorrow” actually had a conversation with the real Dawn Staples. With early reviews complimenting the film, Emily Blunt’s acting, and the chilling instability portrayed by Johnson, it seems their hard work tearing apart their rib cages has definitely been worth it.

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2025-09-03 22:08