Emily Blunt Says She Feels ‘Lighter Than Air’ as She Turns 41 After Her First Oscar Nomination (Exclusive)

Happy birthday, Emily Blunt!

The Oppenheimer actress, who turns 41 on Friday, recently revealed to PEOPLE how she feels at this stage in her life, ahead of her first Oscar nomination.

“I feel like I’ve been lighter than air the last few weeks. I feel so happy,” Blunt says in an interview with PEOPLE’s annual Oscars portfolio, when asked about the recognition.

“I don’t know if I had much time for it to sink in. I feel very happy, like calm, happy,” she adds.

Says actor Robert Downey Jr., “Blunt is one of those people who is most naturally inclined to be optimistic while being real about things.”

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WITH OppenheimerEmily Blunt scored her first Oscar nomination

“And it’s also very strange, because you don’t see a lot of Britishness in her,” he continues to joke about Blunt. “I’m not saying because you’re so cool, but you have a calmness and poise – you hardly ever talk bad about anyone.”

Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt and Cillian Murphy at the 96th Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon on February 12, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

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“Never,” agrees the film’s star Cillian Murphy, who also worked with Blunt on the 2021 thriller. Quiet place II. part.

“…to our dismay,” jokes Downey, 58. “So if you could work on that, that would be great.”

“I will. I’m going to work on a cheesy speech. I’ll write it down,” Blunt replies.

Oscars 2024: All first-time acting nominees

Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer (2023).

Universal Pictures

Blunt previously reflected on where she was when she found out she was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress Oscar category.

“I cried for a little bit when I found out … right after I picked up my dog’s poop,” Blunt told MTV’s Josh Horowitz Happy Sad Confused podcast. “I picked up a poop, and then I heard that I was nominated.”

She added that her husband and fellow actor John Krasinski “had a good cry, too” when they found out she won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Oppenheimer.

“After he helped me with the poop — I think he went and threw it in the trash, and then we both cried,” Blunt joked.

The 96th Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will be broadcast live on Sunday, March 10, from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California, beginning at 7:00 PM ET.

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Source: HIS Education