This weekend, Emma Stone’s latest film, which is garnering her considerable Oscar buzz, Bugonia, expands to wide release, and it adds yet another impressive film to an already memorable filmography. Not only does this keep her collaborations with director Yorgos Lanthimos moving full speed ahead, but it also showcases why Stone is one of the best actresses of her generation. She has proven herself to be a diverse talent, capable of taking on roles that challenge her and expand on her abilities, while also collecting many accolades along the way.
At only 36 years old, Stone is a four-time Academy Award nominee, with two of those turning into wins. From comedies to dramas to even a musical, it seems that Stone has done it all. It’s no easy task, given her body of work, but with her once again hitting the big screen, this felt like the perfect opportunity to break down her five best performances ever!
Honorable Mention: Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) as Hannah
Crazy, Stupid, Love still holds a place as one of the best romantic comedies, and Stone is one of the reasons that the movie has maintained much of its charm. Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, from a screenplay by Dan Fogelman, Crazy, Stupid, Love follows Cal Weaver (Steve Carell), a recently separated and down on his luck man who learns the ins and outs of being more romantic to charm women from Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling), a much younger man and suave womanizer. On top of the film’s wickedly smart screenplay, the ensemble cast goes a long way to elevate the material, and a part of that elevation comes courtesy of Stone’s Hannah Weaver, a smart law school graduate who comes across Jacob and is probably the first woman to turn down his advances, at least initially.
In true sitcom fashion, Cal is Hannah’s father, and once they start dating, Jacob’s womanizing ways hilariously don’t sit well with him. Stone’s confidence shines through as Hannah, making it easy to believe that it won’t be business as usual in terms of Jacob pursuing her. Some of the best moments in the film are the scenes where she forces Gosling’s character, Palmer, to break down his walls and express why he has found it so hard to pursue meaningful relationships. Once their relationship softens a bit, Stone and Gosling display palpable chemistry and make for a solid on-screen couple, which is a sign of even bigger things to come for this acting pair.
5. Easy A (2010) as Olive Penderghast
After a series of supporting roles, Stone proved she was more than capable of leading a film with what is considered by many to be her breakthrough role in 2010’s Easy A, directed by Will Gluck. Written by Bert V. Royal, Easy A is loosely inspired by the 1850 novel The Scarlet Letter and follows a high schooler, Olive, after she lies to her best friend about losing her virginity to a fictional college guy. After someone overhears the conversation, the story begins to spread like wildfire, but to her surprise, she actually enjoys the attention her alleged promiscuity garners. Easy A plays to one of Stone’s many strengths, and in this case, it’s her impeccable comedic timing.
As Olive, she fully commits to the character’s zany and offbeat personality, all while presenting the audience with a comedic masterclass. Whether it’s watching her belt out Natasha Bedingfield’s “Pocketful of Sunshine” or her confident strut through the school hallways following her “sexual encounter,” Stone owns every moment of Easy A, and it’s easy to see why this is the film that made Hollywood take notice that she’s not just a supporting player, she’s a bonafide movie star.
4. Birdman (2014) as Sam Thomson
Stone earned her first Academy Award nomination for her performance in Birdman, and rightfully so. It’s a scene-stealing supporting turn where she holds her own alongside the likes of Michael Keaton and Edward Norton. Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu from a screenplay he co-wrote with Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., and Armando Bo, Birdman follows a washed-up actor named Riggan Thomson (Keaton), who was best known for portraying the titular superhero. To stage a comeback, he sets out to write, direct, and star in a Broadway adaptation of Raymond Carver’s short story What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. Stone portrays Riggan’s daughter, Sam, a recovering drug addict who is also serving as his assistant while he tries to reconnect with her in a more meaningful way.
Stone is fiercely blunt in Birdman, something she displays on more than one occasion as the only one willing to be honest with her father as he navigates a very tricky comeback. One of the film’s best scenes is an electrifying and intense monologue delivered by Stone regarding her father’s irrelevance, which is so palpable because once the words escape her mouth, her rage soon turns to regret because she can tell she hurt him.
This moment alone no doubt secured her an easy Oscar nomination following the movie’s release, along with her handling of some. the film’s darkly hilarious material. Even though her character has past conflicts and very well has her own issues, she’s the only person who keeps her dad (or tries to) grounded in reality, trying to get him to pay attention to what really matters in his life. Her delivery might be harsh, but her heart is in the right place, and Stone sells all of it masterfully.
3. The Favourite (2018) as Abigail Hill
The Favourite is significant for Stone’s career for a couple of reasons. The movie allowed her to showcase a side of her talents that no one has seen before, and it marked the first collaboration between her and director Yorgos Lanthimos, something that has served both of them greatly. Directed by Lanthimos from a screenplay by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara, The Favourite concerns the relationship between cousins Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) and Abigail Hill (Stone) during the 18th century in Great Britain as they do whatever it takes to be the court favourite of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman). Didn’t know that Stone could also stand tall in a period piece?
Well, here’s your answer, but it’s done so in true Stone fashion as The Favourite is a wickedly funny dark comedy, making it a fun and twisted period drama. The fun part of Stone’s work here is watching her turn Abigail from a mere penniless cousin to someone who isn’t afraid to scheme, poison, and use sex to get her way to the top. Stone doesn’t miss a beat in the role, totally believable at one moment as someone naively angelic and just as convincing as someone delightfully cruel. It’s no surprise that the role earned her a third Academy Award nomination and cemented her place as a muse to Lanthimos, thus forging one of the best director and acting partnerships in the industry today.
2. La La Land (2016) as Amelia “Mia” Dolan
La La Land scored Stone her first Oscar win, and it’s easy to see why. As Amelia “Mia” Dolan, she pours her heart and soul into the role of an actress who just wants to follow her dreams. Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, La La Land is a musical and romantic comedy-drama that follows struggling jazz pianist Sebastian “Seb” Wilder and aspiring actress Mia (Stone), who meet and fall in love under the starry nights of Los Angeles. Stone is all wide-eyed sincerity in La La Land, which goes a long way to make Mia likable and relatable. Playing an aspiring actress may not have been much of a stretch on paper since it’s something Stone has lived, but beyond this, the actress captures the allure, enchantment, and wonder of old Hollywood in the film.
It’s a performance that harkens back to legends of the past, with Stone proving more than capable as a dancer and singer throughout the film’s musical numbers. The chemistry between her and Gosling, which began during their first on-screen union in Crazy, Stupid, Love, only gets better here, giving the film much of its romantic spark and some of its anguish when it becomes clear that their relationship and professional goals aren’t exactly aligned. It’s a very nuanced performance, and most importantly, it has a lot of heart that proves all the reasons Stone consistently lights up the screen.
1. Poor Things (2023) as Bella Baxter/Victoria Blessington
Sometimes it takes a high level of trust to deliver the performance that Stone gives in Poor Things, and it’s easy to see that the trust she shares with director Yorgos Lanthimos is strong enough to allow the actress to go to some very uneasy places in the name of art. Written by Tony McNamara and based on the 1992 novel by Alasdair Gray, Poor Things follows a young woman named Bella Baxter (Stone) who is brought back to life following a brain transplant. If there is a role that embodies commitment, it’s Stone’s work here, which is complex, challenging, and captivating.
It’s a fearless performance that sees the actress having to physically go to some extreme places while also making sure the character never becomes some kind of caricature or a joke. Stone one her second Academy Award for her work in this film, and it came as no surprise because with this performance, she showed immense growth across a stellar career that only seems to get better with each passing film. Will Bugonia follow suit, at least with a nomination? Don’t be surprised if it does!
Bugonia expands to wide release this Friday.
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