During a promotional push for her latest film, The Fall Guy, Emily Blunt discussed how her daughters react to seeing her onscreen. The actress revealed that her daughters, aged nine and seven, don’t enjoy watching her in movies because they find it strange to see her play someone other than their mother. This reaction seems to be universal regardless of the genre of the film, including Disney productions like The Muppets, Mary Poppins Returns, and Jungle Cruise. Blunt shared that her daughters were particularly traumatized by her role in Jungle Cruise due to dramatic underwater scenes in which she played a character in peril.
Blunt’s co-star in The Fall Guy, Ryan Gosling, also shared similar experiences with his own daughters. He discussed how his daughters have veto power over the roles he takes on, as they were uncomfortable with certain scenes in which he was set on fire. Gosling pointed out that his kids don’t seem interested in watching him onscreen at all, even fast-forwarding through their mother Eva Mendes’ part in one of their favorite shows. Both actors acknowledged that children seem to have difficulty separating their parents from the characters they portray on screen, preferring to see them solely as their caregivers rather than actors in different roles.
The Fall Guy, which is loosely based on a 1980s TV series about stunt performers and directed by David Leitch with a screenplay by Drew Pearce, had its premiere at SXSW before hitting theaters in May. During the conversation, Blunt and Gosling shared their own fears while filming the action-comedy, with Gosling admitting to wearing sunglasses during a stunt to hide his fear. The two actors agreed that children often struggle with seeing their parents in perilous or dramatic situations onscreen, resulting in emotional reactions that sometimes lead them to leave the room or fast-forward through scenes.
Blunt and Gosling reflected on their daughters’ reactions to specific scenes in their films, with Blunt’s daughters being particularly disturbed by the underwater sequences in Jungle Cruise. Despite their own fears, both actors acknowledged the challenges of balancing their careers with their roles as parents, especially when it comes to protecting their children from the more intense aspects of their work. The conversation highlighted the complexities of navigating parenthood in the entertainment industry, where exposure to onscreen violence or danger can impact how children perceive their parents’ work.
The discussion on how children react to seeing their parents onscreen shed light on the unique challenges faced by actors who are also parents. Blunt and Gosling’s experiences revealed the importance of balancing their careers with their responsibilities as caregivers, especially when it comes to managing their children’s emotional responses to scenes of peril or violence. As they continue to navigate both worlds, these actors are mindful of the impact their work may have on their children and strive to find a balance that allows them to pursue their passion while protecting their family dynamic.
