Emily Blunt: 'I want to be credible... not likeable'

Emily Blunt prefers to play characters who are not considered to be "likeable".

The 33-year-old actress stars as alcoholic Rachel Watson in new movie The Girl on the Train - based on Paula Hawkins' book of the same name. Playing such a complicated character was an opportunity Emily relished, and the actress insists finding a role like Rachel is rare in today's Hollywood.

"There’s this facade, because we want women to be likeable - my least favorite word in Hollywood right now," Emily told Britain's Radio Times magazine. "Actually, I want to play people who are less about being likeable, more about being credible.

“It can truly just be about the internal understanding of the character, as opposed to trying to keep a peripheral awareness of how you might be looking."

Despite Emily's comments, there can be no denial of her natural beauty. However, the mother-of-two hates when she receives scripts which describe characters based solely on their appearance, without any reference to what lies beneath.

"(The script will say) 'She’s blonde and vivacious and very attractive.’ And I’m like, ‘Cool. What’s she like?’ That always irritates me," Emily grimaced.

This is also a perfect example of sexism in Hollywood, the actress explained, as a leading man "gets a rather insightful introduction as to his deeper being" in his script.

Reports of sexual discrimination in the movie industry have been rife for years, but have hit headlines more recently thanks to stars such as Emma Watson campaigning for issues such as equal pay for actors and actresses.

The amount of female nudity on both the big and small screens has also caused controversy, but Emily insists actresses who sign up to shows such as Game of Thrones are well aware of the kind of program they are appearing in.

"I heard someone say the other day, ‘I can’t believe all those girls on Game of Thrones who just get their t*ts out'" she said. "Well, they want to work and that, maybe, is all they’ve been offered and they’re happy to get a job."