Emily Blunt has talked openly for years about growing up with a stutter. At the American Institute for Stuttering’s 20th anniversary gala in New York on Sept. 16, the 43-year-old actress shared what gives her confidence today: being able to speak fluently, and the security of family life with husband John Krasinski and their daughters, Hazel and Violet.
Blunt hosted the event, which honored AIS founder Steven Tananbaum, a few months after appearing in the organization’s “Just Listen” PSA. Speaking to PEOPLE on the red carpet, she described peace as the guiding idea of her 40s.
Her history with stuttering
Blunt has said her stutter appeared around age 6 or 7, and that several relatives, including her grandfather, also stuttered. As a pre-teen, a teacher noticed she could speak without stuttering when she did voices and accents. That discovery helped lead her to acting, though Blunt has said it wasn’t the only reason she became an actor.
She has used her platform to push back on the stigma. She points out that stuttering is often hereditary and biological, not a person’s fault, and that people who stutter are often bullied.
What’s next for Blunt
This year Blunt starred in The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Disclosure Day. She reunites with Krasinski for A Quiet Place Part III, due in July 2027.
Why it matters
Around 1% of adults worldwide stutter. When a well-known actress talks candidly about it, children who stutter, and their parents, see that it doesn’t have to limit anyone’s future. Organizations like AIS offer therapy and support for anyone who wants help.
