How ‘Poor Things’ became Emma Stone’s favourite role
After coming through into the spotlight in a series of teen comedy films such as Superbad, Zombieland and Easy A, Emma Stone set about taking Hollywood by storm, a goal that she has achieved several times over with magnetic and versatile performances delivered from every angle.
Such mesmerising efforts meant that recognition at the Oscars soon arrived with nominations for the Academy Award for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ in Birdman and The Favourite, a feat that Stone bettered in 2016 when she won the Oscar for ‘Best Actress’ for her role in the Damien Chazelle romantic musical La La Land.
Having already collaborated with Yorgos Lanthimos on The Favourite, Stone was picked up again by the Greek director for his 2023 science fantasy black comedy Poor Things, also starring Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe, based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray.
Stone plays Bella Baxter, a young Victoria-era woman who is suddenly resurrected from her suicide by a scientist. Bella then decides to elope with a debauched lawyer, and she sets off on a sexual journey of self-actualisation. The film appears to be close to Stone’s heart, and she explains that Bella has quickly become the favourite character she has ever played.
“Well, she’s my favourite character ever, like hands down, by a mile — she’s incredible,” Stone told The Irish Examiner. “I know that I probably will never ever get to even touch a character like Bella ever again, which is heartbreaking to me, but also incredible because to be so lucky to get to play a character like her.”
“And so that is precious to me, Bella is precious to me,” the actor added. With such remarkable roles to her name, including her previous Academy Award-nominated and winning efforts, clearly, there seems to be something special in Bella that Stone finds a deep kinship with, a certain personal degree of understanding.
In our four-star review of Poor Things, we wrote, “Of course, at the heart of it is Emma Stone, playing the pivotal Baxter, and it’s clear that the very fact this movie exists is almost entirely down to the fact that Yorgos and Stone have found in each other a genuinely like-minded collaborator. Their work together is fruitful and compelling – reminiscent of a director/actor duo from a more creatively free and classic time of Hollywood, like Shelley Duvall to Robert Altman.”
Check out the trailer for Poor Things below to see Stone in her favourite role.
