Blunt: I struggle with ongoing optimism

Emily Blunt struggles with “being the centre of attention” because she’s British.

The 32-year-old attended the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday for the premiere of her new movie, Sicario. The Denis Villeneuve-directed film was extremely well received by the audience, but Emily admits the ongoing applause made her a little uncomfortable at times.

“British people have a really hard time with that," she confessed to USA Today. "We have a hard time with ongoing enthusiasm and being the centre of attention."

As well as the adulation from the audience, Emily also received praise from two-time Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett, who was in attendance at the premiere. For the mother-of-one, it was a “surreal” moment that topped off her first Cannes experience.

“[She] just said how much she loved it. That she was sort of stunned by it," she smiled. "It was quite lovely."

After her official duties were done, Emily got to enjoy a handful of champagne-fuelled parties and a late night pizza before returning to her hotel at 3am and calling her husband John Krasinski, who is back in the U.S.

“He was just really proud and happy," she added. "It was all good news."

With her spouse at home with their 15-month-old daughter Hazel, Emily had to cosy up to co-star Josh Brolin on the red carpet. The film sees the brunette play an FBI agent who joins Josh and Benicio Del Toro's efforts to disrupt Mexican drug trafficking. While the film is tough at times, the premiere was a relaxed and happy affair for all involved.

"My tendency is to downplay everything," she confessed. "But, hand on my heart, it was quite a magical night."