Young Victoria star Emily Blunt jumped at the chance to shake up the historical view of the famous English queen, who she insists in this on-set interview was frequently amused and passionate in love. Just don’t get the screen sensation started on the subject of Victoria’s corsets…
You seem to be sitting around a lot today…
“Yes, which is rather nice actually if you’re in a corset. It’s a big relief. I’m quite overheated, though, with all these layers.
“The big cloak is like carrying a bear on my shoulders, so that’s interesting.” What about the crown?
“It’s left a dent in my head which they cover with make-up so I don’t look frightening…It’s remarkably heavy.”
And someone rushes up and takes it off your head between set-ups…
“Yes. It starts to wobble so I have to make everything very slow.”
How are you finding the gowns?
“I hate the corset. (I’m) over it, so over it. They put it on me in the morning, then loosen it off for lunch. It’s painful to get back into after a big meal. And I think if one more person steps on my train, I might swing some punches.”
How have you found playing Victoria?
“It’s wonderful. It’s exciting and a challenge to say the least. She was a remarkable girl, and so of course you want to do her justice.
“There’s a big journey to play her from this young, rather stubborn teenager to a rather magnetic queen very much in command of herself. But I’m loving her.
“Contrary to popular belief, when she was younger she was feisty, emotional and intelligent, a vibrant person. I think people mistake her for being this widowed, mourning queen. So it’s exciting we’re going to refresh people’s opinion of her.”
What was it like to be chosen for the role? Especially as the film is being funded by an American company…
“I think the British would have been up in arms if they’d put an American in this part. But still, there are much bigger English actresses out there than me. I pretty much demanded they cast me in the role! Or pleaded first but then demanded. And it seemed to work.”
Apparently Victoria also had a temper. Don’t you end up chasing Albert around the palace?
“Yes. He would just shut the door on her and she’d keep chasing him around slamming the doors.
Have you shot those scenes?
“Yep, we’ve done that. I nearly lost my voice that day. Screeched myself senseless.”
Everyone has a visual image of Victoria when she was older. Do you feel your face is similar to hers when she was younger?
“I’ve heard she wasn’t really a looker so… Oh god, I hope not!
“No, I think we are fairly similar. We both have these rather hooded eyes and similar colouring. She liked to eat as well and I eat like a truck-driver. But I think I have a better metabolism than she did. Actually the prime minister said to her at one point, “Maam, you must try to eat only when you’re hungry.” And she said, ‘Well, I’m always hungry’.”
How is it working with Rupert Friend as Albert?
“Oh, he’s wonderful. He’s just perfectly cast, impeccable, and has morphed into this character completely. I just couldn’t have asked for a better guy.”
Theirs is an amazing love story.
“Wonderful. They were deeply in love. They had nine kids for God’s sake, they must have been!
“And they were passionate about each other. It was partly why they had the blazing fights – because they could. And because she was safe to do that because he would always be by her side.”
Source: Hello Magazine
