Oscar hopeful Emily Blunt will get a jump on awards season with the 19th annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.
The actress, who received rave reviews for her role in Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi epic Disclosure Day, will be honored during a gala on Dec. 10, fest organizers announced Tuesday.
“Emily Blunt takes risks most actors wouldn’t dare — moving between drama, comedy, and blockbuster spectacle with the same precision and commitment,” Michael Douglas says in a statement. “That range and authenticity are exactly what the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film was created to celebrate. We’re proud to honor her.”
In addition to Disclosure Day, Blunt also reprised her role of Emily Charlton in the blockbuster sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2. She earned an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Kitty Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role opposite Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine.
Past honorees of the Kirk Douglas Award include Cynthia Erivo, Will Ferrell, Ryan Gosling, Michelle Yeoh, Martin Scorsese, Hugh Jackman, Dame Judi Dench, Warren Beatty, Jane Fonda, Jessica Lange, Forest Whitaker, Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, Quentin Tarantino, Ed Harris and John Travolta.
The 42nd Santa Barbara Film Festival will take place Feb. 3-Feb. 13, 2027.
