Emily Blunt and John Krasinski attend the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California© Getty Images

Emily Blunt talks 'guilt' over separation from daughters with John Krasinski and acting break

The Oppenheimer star wants to be there to watch her daughters hit new milestones

Ahad Sanwari - New York
Senior WriterNew York
July 11, 2023

Emily Blunt got candid on the latest episode of the iHeartPodcast "Table for Two with Bruce Bozzi" about balancing motherhood and her thriving acting career.

The English actress, 40, opened up to the celebrity interviewer and restaurateur about finding time to be a mom to her daughters with husband John Krasinski, Hazel, eight, and Violet, six.

She opened up her planned year-long break from acting in order to devote more time to document her daughters' milestones after a busy year with the TV show The English and the movies Oppenheimer, Pain Hustlers, and The Fall Guy.

VIDEO: Emily Blunt learns from her daughters every day

On the balancing act, she said: "I never feel I'm doing it right. This year, I'm not working. I worked quite a bit last year and my oldest baby is nine, so we're in the last year of single digits. 

MORE: Emily Blunt on her stuttering battle, lessons for her daughters, John Krasinski's support

"And I just feel [like] there are cornerstones to their day that are so important when they're little. And it's, 'Will you wake me up? Will you take me to school? Will you pick me up? Will you put me to bed?'"

© Getty Images

Emily got candid about taking a break to spend more time with her daughters

She tenderly continued: "And I just need to be there for all of them for a good stretch. And I just felt that in my bones.

MORE: Inside Emily Blunt's relationship with Michael Buble before wedding at A-lister's home

"I had a beautiful time on the projects I did last year. Some were more tense than others, some were harder than others. Some were more time consuming than others. 

© Instagram

The actress is currently promoting the upcoming "Oppenheimer"

"The ones that are time consuming, I think for me are becoming few and further between because of just the emotional cost on me, on the kids, on balance. And I'm very prone to guilt, I think all mothers are. You're just prone to feeling bad for, god forbid, wanting something outside of being a mother."

MORE: Emily Blunt and John Krasinski's unique home life with daughters revealed

While the A Quiet Place star was firm in her love for her profession, she wanted to find the time to bring all her dreams together. "I am a huge advocate for women being ambitious, I love the word ambitions. It's just dreams with purpose. And I want my kids to grow up and find something they adore doing."

© Getty Images

Emily and John share daughters Hazel and Violet

In an interview with Harper's Bazaar UK last month, where she first shared that she wanted to step away from the camera for a bit, she opened up about not wanting to see her daughters follow in their famous parents' footsteps.

MORE: Emily Blunt opens up about childhood stutter and provides advice to other parents

"My toes curl when people tell me, 'My daughter wants to be an actress.' I want to say, don't do it!" she says emphatically.

© Getty Images

"My toes curl when people tell me, 'My daughter wants to be an actress.' I want to say, don't do it!" she says

"Because it's a hard industry and it can be very disappointing," Emily continued. "A lot of people tell you not to take things personally – but it's completely personal, especially when you're being judged on how you look. So you just have to endure that side of things."

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