Emily Blunt reveals what Tom Cruise is really like on set after filming Edge of Tomorrow

ENGLISH actress Emily Blunt reveals what A-lister Tom Cruise is really like on set and why she just had to be a “badass”.

Emily Blunt in a scene from sci-fi film Edge Of Tomorrow. Roadshow, Warner pictures

ENGLISH actress Emily Blunt reveals what it’s really like working with A-lister Tom Cruise in a Q&A with Katie Ellis.

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With your daughter Hazel born in February, you’re a new mum — how are you enjoying motherhood?

It’s wonderful thank you. It’s lovely.

Has it been harder than you thought so far?

I don’t know. It’s not like it is something you can ever be fully prepared for. It’s just been crazy but in a good way. I love it.

Emily Blunt trained for three months to play a “lethal badass” in <i>Edge Of Tomorrow</i>.

How is it getting back to work to promote your new movie, Edge Of Tomorrow?

Very hard. I’ve spent days on end just staring at her, so it is hard. But she’s travelling with me so it’s OK.

What made you want to play this formidable warrior from the future?

Because of Tom Cruise and getting to play a lethal badass! I just loved her from the start. It’s so great to get such an empowered female character. Usually it’s the girlfriend role but in this it’s me kicking butt and the guy having to learn the ropes and keep up.

Emily Blunt as decorated soldier Sergeant Major Rita Vrataski.

Can you explain a little about who you play in Edge Of Tomorrow?

I play Sergeant Major Rita Vrataski, who is the most highly decorated soldier in the United Defence Force. She’s a fearsome warrior and she’s notoriously killed over a 1000 Mimics — which is an impossible feat, seeing as most soldiers get killed within moments of landing in a battle. So she’s this rather mythical hero in the movie. My character is enlisted by Tom’s character, Major Cage, and he enlists her help to help train him and help him survive.

How did you approach playing an action hero?

I never approached Rita as a female action character. I just saw her as this lethal powerhouse who was pretty much the toughest person I’ve come across. It was exciting to approach her in that way.

The relationship between her and Tom’s character is an unusual one.

Yeah. She sees that he’s doing things. He seems to be predicting the aliens next move, and that’s disconcerting for her at first because she’s wondering how he does that. As he continues to fight in this agile, clever way by predicting where they’re going to be, she realises that he is someone who is one-in-a-million, in that he can inherit the aliens ability to reset the date.

Emily Blunt says Tom Cruise is a very generous actor with a “childlike enthusiasm”.

What was it like working alongside Tom Cruise?

It’s an infectious thing to be around Tom Cruise. He has this wonderful, irrepressible enthusiasm every day on set. He’s not cynical in the slightest and he’s not weary in the slightest with anything. There’s a childlike enthusiasm everyday with creating a character and a story — and he does it because he wants people to enjoy themselves and he wants the film to be as incredible as it can be — and he wants you to be great in it as well, so he’s a very generous actor and a very generous person.

The actress hits the red carpet to launch the movie in New York.

Emily Blunt attends the <i>Edge Of Tomorrow </i>premiere in Paris.

How hard were the stunts and action scenes in this movie?

I trained for three months beforehand but it was hard because I haven’t done much action at all. But playing those scenes is what I always live for in a movie experience. It was such a breath of fresh air because most of the film was so physical.

And what about having to wear that futuristic suit?

Well, you can train all you want, and you can run a million miles and you can lift weights and learn how to do a pull up — and I did all of that stuff — but I don’t think any of it really prepares you for the sheer weight of those suits. Learning how to move in it so you can make it look effortless even though it isn’t was not easy.

Tom Cruise feels the heat in a scene from <i>Edge Of Tomorrow</i>.

You just did three world premieres in 24 hours for this movie. How hard was that?

It was fun. I was fine because I have a new baby so I’m used to odd hours and not sleeping.

Do you enjoy dressing up for the red carpet?

Sure. And three outfits in 24 hours was even more fun.

How would you describe your style?

I’m usually seen in jeans and flip-flops, which is probably why I love dressing up for premieres. It’s exciting to do something so out of the rhythm of your normal life.

Emily Blunt poses for photographs at the <i>Edge Of Tomorrow </i>premiere in London.

Originally published as Emily Blunt reveals what Tom Cruise is really like on set after filming Edge of Tomorrow