She is one of the most successful actresses in Hollywood.

But even Emily Blunt has revealed that leading roles can be difficult to come by as a woman.

The actress, 33, admitted to Vogue in her gorgeous cover shoot for the magazine's 'Real Issue', that the competition for a main blockbuster role is a brutal 'feeding frenzy' between actresses.

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Survival of the fittest! Emily Blunt, 33, has revealed that the competition for a main role is a brutal 'feeding frenzy' between actresses in her stunning new cover shoot for Vogue

Emily poses in a gorgeous black and white floral dress on the cover of the issue, showcasing her radiant and naturally beautiful features.

However despite looking every inch a star on the cover, she revealed in the candid interview that keeping her place in the film industry's limelight is no easy feat.

She said on the huge competition for leading female roles: 'There's such a shortage that when they do arise there's a bit of a feeding frenzy among my peers.'

'It's a very good thing that we keep talking about the issue. It's a conversation that needs to continue.'

Candid: Despite looking every inch a star in the magazine shots, she revealed in the candid interview that keeping her place in the film industry's limelight is no easy feat

However, she also added that while Hollywood are becoming more aware of the shortage, no fix for the problem appears to be forming.

She added: 'I would prefer that we actually go in a direction of producing and creating more jobs for women in the film industry as opposed to talking about it.'

Yet, as one of the top British actresses of the moment, Emily has still managed to secure her fair share of iconic roles - including the beloved character of Mary Poppins, who she will play in 2018.

The new sequel is set twenty years after the original, and will focus on a fully-grown Michael Banks and his three children in the aftermath of a tragedy.

Future's looking bright: Emily has still managed to secure her fair share of iconic roles - including the beloved Mary Poppins, who she will play in 2018

Speaking of the exciting nanny role, Emily gushed: 'She's really mean to the kids, unashamedly so, yet has this enigmatic master plan which is what you fall in love with.'

While many have questioned how successful a sequel of the classic Disney flick will be, the Devil Wears Prada star explains that she does not intend to copy the role made famous by Julie Andrews, but instead make it her own.

She said: 'I want to do something different. It's a different tone and I feel strongly that the film can stand alone from the original.'

Emily is currently promoting her new thriller The Girl On The Train, which hits UK cinemas on Wednesday.

Busy woman:Emily is currently promoting her new thriller The Girl On The Train, which hits UK cinemas on Wednesday

Emily plays Rachel in the film, an alcoholic who is trying to piece together the events of a night which saw the woman from the supposedly perfect couple she spies on from her train journeys go missing.

However the actress fell pregnant just before filming began, making the more physical fight scenes with her co-stars Luke Evans and Justin Theroux more difficult.

'I think that Luke Evans and Justin Theroux, who I have a couple of tussles with, were a bit nervous and cautious about it,' said Emily of her pregnancy.

Obstacle on set: Emily fell pregnant with her second child with hubby John Krasinski (above) just before filming began, making the physical fight scenes more difficult

'They were very kind. But I don't think I anticipated how physical this role was. It turned out to be so very physical, playing a drunk and being so emotional. It was a job that wore me out and I'm sure my fragile state added to that.'

Emily, who already has two-year-old daughter Hazel with husband John Krasinski, welcomed little Violet in June after filming had wrapped.

Yet the film, based on the novel by Paula Hawkins, has already been met with controversy before its release - with fans complaining the every-woman commuter Rachel is 'too beautiful' when played by Emily.

Laughing on the matter to Vogue, the actress in her usual witty style joked: 'It took three hours of hair and make-up to get me looking this real.. Earlier I started to lactate on these designer clothes and I was like, 'I need to go and pump!'

See the full shoot in the November issue of Vogue, on sale Thursday