Emily Blunt graces American Vogue cover dressed as Mary Poppins

British actor plays beloved nanny in the forthcoming film

(Getty Images)

British actor Emily Blunt has appeared on the December cover of American Vogue dressed as Mary Poppins.

Dressed in character as the eponymous nanny, the British actor is in an all-red ensemble by Dior, complete with a full tulle skirt and a form-fitting blazer and an open umbrella by London Undercover.

The cover was photographed by Annie Leibovitz and has been widely praised by fans on social media, with people gearing up for the new film, which comes out in the UK on 19 December.

“Can we do @Disney themed photo shoots for every magazine cover?” enthused one person on Twitter. “This is spectacular, as is Emily Blunt. (and all things Mary Poppins)”.

Another teased: “Well this is an uncomfortable combination of my teen and childhood crushes."

The cover image marks a move away from the traditional portrait-style photography that most fashion magazines, including Vogue, usually favour.

Instead of a classic, close-up studio shot, we see Blunt in full length, with just a blue and cloudy sky behind her.

The shoot is accompanied by an in-depth interview in which the 35-year-old actor discusses her role in Mary Poppins Returns, which sees her taking on the beloved nanny character famously played by Julie Andrews, who won an Oscar for her performance in the 1964 film.

Blunt tells the magazine that she did not re-watch the classic film in fear that it might put her off.

“I knew that if I watched Julie Andrews’s version, maybe I would take the edge off of what my instincts were telling me to do,” she said. “Also, I didn’t want to be completely intimidated by the brilliance of her voice.”