Woody Harrelson on Emma Stone: “I always think of her as a young Lauren Bacall”
Woody Harrelson has worked with his fair share of popular actors during his time. From Christopher Walken and George Clooney to Jennifer Lawrence and France McDormand, the actor has graced screens with both iconic stars and up-and-comers, but there is one that he saw true greatness in, comparing her to the Hollywood icon Lauren Bacall.
Emerging during the Golden Age of Hollywood, Bacall quickly rose to become one of the most recognisable faces in the film industry, appearing in movies like The Big Sleep, How to Marry A Millionaire, and Key Largo. She commanded the screen effortlessly, harnessing a sense of charm that captured audiences’ attention, with her distinctive voice – possessive of a slight husk – making her unforgettable.
For Harrelson, working with a certain young star instantly reminded him of Bacall, even if the film they were appearing in together was far removed from the kinds of movies that the Hollywood icon was known for. It was 2009, and Harrelson had been cast alongside heavyweight star Bill Murray in Zombieland, which also featured some relatively new actors, such as Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin, and Emma Stone. Of course, it was the latter, who has now gone on to secure two Oscars wins, whom he compared to Bacall.
Stone had moved to Hollywood in the early 2000s, desperate to become a star. Despite auditioning for countless shows and movies, it wasn’t until 2007’s Superbad that she truly hit the big time. She might not have had a massive role, but her performance was pretty unforgettable, winning her ‘Exciting New Face’ at the Young Hollywood Awards.
From there, a few more roles in movies like The House Bunny and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past allowed Stone to level up, resulting in her casting in Zombieland. It was here that she made an even more significant mark in Hollywood, and while she was part of a small group of cast members, she proved that she was more than capable of going onto leading roles, which she soon did as the protagonist of Easy A.
When Harrelson met Stone, he knew she was destined for big things. He explained to Vanity Fair, “A lot of what pushes people into this profession is that they have this hole in them and they need to be loved. She’s got this kind of completeness to her.”
He continued: “I always think of her as a young Lauren Bacall. She’s got a voice 40 years older than she is. When God put the person together, He got the wrong voice.” Sure, they’ve both got the husky voice (which Stone blames on having colic as a baby), but the similarities don’t end there. Both actors became impressive leading stars quickly into their careers, and if Stone’s career follows a similar trajectory, then she should be acting for decades to come.
Bacall continued her career into the 1990s and 2000s, appearing in acclaimed movies like Misery, Dogville, and Birth. She even lent her voice to several animated films, too, including Howl’s Moving Castle and Scooby Doo! and the Goblin King. Thus, if Harrelson’s comparisons are correct, then Stone is surely going to have a long career ahead of her.
