Emily Blunt has become one of the most well-known actors of her generation, but the 'Oppenheimer' and 'Mary Poppins Returns' actress has come in for harsh criticism, thanks to comments in an old interview.

Blunt has found herself embroiled in a conversation about 'fat-shaming' in recent days, thanks to an old video clip of her on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2012 re-emerged online.

Blunt was recounting a story about shooting the film 'Looper' in Louisiana, and told Ross about her encounter with a waitress in the chain restaurant Chili's.

Ross said "If you go to Chili's, you can see why so many of our American friends are enormous", to which Blunt replied: "Well, the girl that was serving me was enormous. I think she got freebie meals at Chili's."

The clip saw Blunt - who is married to actor and director John Krasinski -roundly criticised for using derogatory language that many deemed to be 'fat-shaming' in the interview, and has now apologised for the clip.

In a statement issued to People magazine, she said: "I just need to address this head-on as my jaw was on the floor watching this clip from 12 years ago.

"I'm appalled that I would say something so insensitive, hurtful, and unrelated to whatever story I was trying to tell on a talk show. I’ve always considered myself someone who wouldn’t dream of upsetting anyone so whatever possessed me to say anything like this in that moment is unrecognizable to me or anything I stand for.

"And yet it happened, and I said it and I’m so sorry for any hurt caused. I was absolutely old enough to know better."