When you think of Emily Blunt, phrases like “English rose” or her meme-worthy quotes from The Devil Wears Prada might come to mind. Since her breakout in the early 2000s, Blunt has captivated both fans and critics, quickly becoming one of the most admired actresses of her generation. With a range of memorable performances, she has proven herself to be not only incredibly talented but also remarkably versatile.
Her impressive filmography includes standout roles in Charlie Wilson’s War, The Young Victoria, The Adjustment Bureau, Into the Woods, The Girl on the Train, A Quiet Place, and Mary Poppins Returns. These credits underscore her ability to shine in a wide variety of genres.
Raised in a middle-class family in London, Blunt’s journey to stardom began in her teenage years, even as she grappled with uncertainty about her career path. Want to know more about how Emily Blunt became the star she is today? Here’s a look at her stunning transformation.
#1. At the 2004 British Independent Film Awards
The first photo shows 21-year-old Emily Blunt, who had already been making waves in professional theatre since she was 18.
Here, her natural light golden brown hair is styled in the boho waves that were all the rage in the early 2000s, reminiscent of Sienna Miller’s iconic look. She looks effortlessly beautiful!
#2. At the 2006 New York City Premiere of ‘The Devil Wears Prada’
After going red for The Devil Wears Prada, Emily deepened her hair to this cool-toned auburn, which perfectly complements her complexion.
It’s refreshing to see such a natural look on the red carpet—something you don’t often see these days! And check out her smile—this was before teeth whitening, veneers, and perhaps even before lip injections.
#3. At the 2006 Hollywood Life Breakthrough of the Year Awards
If I hadn’t seen the earlier photos, I would have guessed this was Emily’s natural hair color. The dark brunette was her go-to shade in her early years of fame, and it’s easy to see why—it really makes her blue eyes pop.
Another standout feature at the time was her cleft chin, which seemed to become less noticeable in later years.
#4. At the 2007 Golden Globes
Just a month later, Emily styled her reddish-brown hair into an elegant updo as she accepted her first Golden Globe Award.
At just 23, she looked remarkably fresh-faced, embodying what we now call the “clean girl makeup” look—before it even had a name!
#5. At the 2007 Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards
Next, Emily experimented with a light spray tan and a vibrant copper-red hair color. However, don’t count on her revisiting this shade anytime soon.
She later admitted in an interview, “Red was fun… but I’m more comfortable dark or blonde.” You can also clearly see her cleft chin in this photo.
#6. At the 2008 Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Defiance’
In 2008, Emily returned to her brown hair, styled in tousled waves, and opted for a minimal makeup look. I might not have recognized her at first glance!
From this angle, her nose appears perfectly petite, with an above-average distance between her nose and upper lip. This philtrum area can sometimes look unnaturally long after rhinoplasty.
#7. At the 2009 ELLE Women in Hollywood Tribute
This photo might remind you of Alison Brie, but it’s actually Emily Blunt. Her darker hair, heavier makeup, and big smile make her look different.
It seems like she has a slight overbite, which causes her teeth to stick out a bit and gives her a gummy smile. This also contributes to a less defined jawline.
#8. At the 2010 Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Gulliver’s Travels’
In 2010, at 27, Emily Blunt looked much more like herself with softer hair and makeup. What stands out in this photo is that she doesn’t have the typical bright “Hollywood smile” just yet.
However, it seems she might have had some dental work done. Compared to 2009, her upper teeth appear shorter, suggesting she may have had some teeth shaving.
#9. At the 2011 World Premiere of ‘Gnomeo & Juliet’
But the natural look didn’t last long. Soon, Emily debuted a bright, bleached-white smile on the red carpet. You can still see signs of an overbite and a thinner upper lip here, which likely led to some cosmetic adjustments later.
When she smiles, her upper lip tends to disappear, but that’s perfectly normal and not something that needs to be “fixed” with filler.
#10. At the 2012 Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’
Next, Emily embraced the trendy “lob” haircut that was popular among celebrities at the time, and it still looks chic today! Her makeup also became more sophisticated, featuring cool cat eyes and coordinating pink lips and cheeks.
When she’s not smiling, you can notice that she has a jawline that might naturally develop some jowls over time.
#11. At the 2013 Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Arthur Newman’
By 2013, Emily was trying out blonde hair, and her face appeared slimmer. While this could be due to weight loss, there might be other factors at play.
She could have undergone procedures to tighten her jawline and smooth out her cleft chin. It’s also possible that she began getting subtle lip injections around this time.
#12. At the 2014 London Premiere of ‘Edge of Tomorrow’
In the following year, Emily returned to being a brunette with subtle ombré ends. You might also notice that her eyebrows have grown significantly thicker, nearly double their size from 2010!
The most noticeable change in her features is her plumper lips—both top and bottom—compared to before.
#13. At the 2015 Cannes Photocall for ‘Sicario’
In 2015, Emily switched up her hair color again, and this blonde is my favorite of hers. The warm tones are reminiscent of her natural color from 2004, and I love the fine highlights and beachy texture.
With the bold red lipstick, it’s tough to say if she’s experimenting with fillers or not.
#14. At the 2016 Los Angeles Premiere of ‘The Huntsman: Winter’s War’
At age 33, Emily went back to dark hair. However, what stands out in this photo is her upper lip, which now looks fuller than her lower lip.
It’s possible she began using filler to create the appearance of less space between her nose and mouth.
#15. At the 2017 SAG Awards
The following year, Emily went blonder than ever, adding lots of highlights to a light, ashy base color. This new look seems to wash out her complexion, and the matte, drying makeup only highlights every fine line.
While it’s clear she wasn’t using Botox on her forehead or crow’s feet, her lips still appear plumped.
#16. At the 2018 Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Mary Poppins Returns’
A year later, Emily lightened her blonde even more, opting for a solid, pale color while keeping her roots and brows dark. Honestly, I don’t think it suits her—it makes her look older than her 35 years.
It might be a way to divert attention from some cosmetic work, as her forehead looks very smooth now. Additionally, her jawline appears stronger, and the indentation in her chin seems to have disappeared.
#17. At the 2019 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala
If the last photo was surprising, this one is even more so. Her teeth, which we hadn’t seen since 2011, now feature oversized porcelain veneers. Additionally, her upper lip remains full even when she smiles widely, indicating the use of filler.
There’s also some wrinkling on one side of her nose, suggesting that Botox mightt have been used to immobilize certain muscles.
#18. At the 2020 New York City Premiere of ‘A Quiet Place Part II’
Fortunately, Emily looked less tweaked at her sole red carpet appearance of 2021.
Her teeth don’t have that “Chiclet” appearance anymore, and her face seems to have more natural movement. Maybe things just needed time to settle?
#19. At the 2023 London Premiere of ‘Oppenheimer’
After taking a break from the spotlight during the pandemic, Emily returned with what looks like a completely new face shape.
Her face appears noticeably fuller and rounder, rather than long and narrow, which certainly sparked conversation. Her lips also look plumper than they did in 2018.
#20. At the 2024 Los Angeles Premiere of ‘The Fall Guy’
Now, we come to one of Emily’s most recent red carpet-appearances. She’s gone blonder than ever, though the bright orange dress and coral makeup clash with her natural cool-toned coloring.
Her newly widened face shape is still evident, particularly at the upper cheekbones and temples. Both her upper and lower lips are noticeably fuller, and you can even spot a slight “shelf” effect above her Cupid’s bow, which suggests the use of fillers.
#21. Emily Blunt Before and After: 2007 vs 2024
Like Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence, Emily Blunt might seem like one of those fresh-faced celebrities who wouldn’t have cosmetic work.
However, when you compare her appearance from the 2000s to now, the changes become noticeable—such as a significantly fuller face shape and plumper lips. There’s also been a noticeable shift in the color and shape of her teeth.
So, what do the experts have to say?
