Emily Blunt on managing stage fright and the power of performance

Blunt credits deep breathing as her primary defense against pre-event jitters. She utilizes a rhythmic technique—inhaling for four counts, holding for four, and exhaling for up to eight—designed to regulate the parasympathetic nervous system. Beyond physical regulation, she maintains a daily practice of transcendental meditation to center her focus.

For Blunt, acting served as an early escape from the constraints of a stutter. She discovered that assuming a character allowed her to bypass the internal pressure of speech, finding a freedom in performance that real-life conversation often lacked. She encourages others to explore improv or poetry to break free from self-imposed limitations. When those methods fall short, she jokingly offers a final, unconventional remedy: a shot of tequila.