Emma Stone’s Best Roles

Emma Stone has become one of Hollywood’s most versatile and beloved actresses, known for her distinctive voice and expressive eyes. She first captured audience attention with her natural comedic timing in teen comedies, quickly establishing herself as a charismatic and relatable presence on screen. Her early roles showcased a sharp wit and an ability to ground even the most absurd situations with a sense of realism, making her a standout talent from the very beginning of her career.

As her career progressed, Stone seamlessly transitioned from lighthearted comedies to more complex and dramatic roles, proving her incredible range. She has taken on parts in critically acclaimed dramas, blockbuster musicals, and thought-provoking independent films, earning numerous awards and nominations along the way. Her willingness to embrace unconventional characters and challenging projects has solidified her status as a formidable actress capable of delivering powerful and memorable performances across any genre.

‘Poor Things’ (2023)

In this fantastical film, Emma Stone plays Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by a brilliant and unorthodox scientist. Under his protection, Bella is initially childlike and eager to learn about the world around her. Her journey is one of rapid self-discovery as she develops mentally and emotionally, hungry for the experiences she lacks and keen to understand her own existence.

As Bella’s understanding grows, she embarks on a whirlwind adventure across continents with a slick lawyer, breaking free from the confines of her creator’s home. This voyage exposes her to the wider world, and she grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation. Free from the prejudices of her time, Bella’s evolution becomes a powerful exploration of identity and freedom, showcasing a truly unique character arc.

‘La La Land’ (2016)

Emma Stone portrays Mia Dolan, an aspiring actress living in Los Angeles and working as a barista on a studio lot while she auditions for roles. She feels discouraged by a series of unsuccessful auditions but remains hopeful that she will one day achieve her dream. Her life takes a turn when she repeatedly crosses paths with a struggling jazz pianist named Sebastian.

Mia and Sebastian’s relationship blossoms as they encourage each other to pursue their passions. She writes a one-woman play, and he plans to open his own jazz club. Their journey explores the highs and lows of chasing dreams in a competitive city and the difficult choices that must be made between love and career aspirations.

‘The Favourite’ (2018)

In this historical dark comedy, Emma Stone plays Abigail Hill, a young woman who arrives at the court of Queen Anne in the early 18th century. She begins as a scullery maid, having fallen on hard times, but she is clever and ambitious. Her cousin, Lady Sarah Churchill, is the Queen’s close confidante and effectively rules the country in her stead.

Abigail quickly learns to navigate the complex politics of the court and begins to charm the frail and volatile Queen. She and Lady Sarah engage in a fierce competition for the Queen’s affection and influence, using flattery, manipulation, and seduction to gain power. Abigail’s rise is a cunning and ruthless pursuit of security and status.

‘Birdman’ (2014)

Emma Stone takes on the role of Sam Thomson, the fresh-out-of-rehab daughter of a faded Hollywood actor named Riggan Thomson. She works as his assistant while he attempts to mount a comeback by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway play. Sam is sharp, cynical, and often serves as a reality check for her father’s grandiose ambitions.

Her character provides a modern perspective on fame, telling her father that online relevance and viral moments are what matter in the contemporary world. Sam’s relationship with her father is strained, yet she remains a crucial part of his support system, offering moments of both harsh truth and genuine connection amidst the chaos of the play’s production.

‘The Help’ (2011)

In this drama set in 1960s Mississippi, Emma Stone plays Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, a recent college graduate and aspiring writer. Unlike her society friends who are focused on marriage and running households, Skeeter is determined to build a career. She gets a job writing a housekeeping advice column for the local newspaper.

Feeling uneasy with the social injustices she witnesses, Skeeter decides to write a book from the perspective of the African American maids who work for the white families in her town. She secretly collaborates with two maids, Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson, to document their experiences, a dangerous project that challenges the town’s deeply ingrained racial prejudices and puts them all at risk.

‘Easy A’ (2010)

Emma Stone stars as Olive Penderghast, a witty and clean-cut high school student whose life is turned upside down by a white lie. After telling her best friend she lost her virginity, the rumor spreads like wildfire through the school. Instead of denying it, Olive decides to embrace her new reputation and use it to her social and financial advantage.

Inspired by ‘The Scarlet Letter’, she begins sewing a red ‘A’ onto her clothes, challenging the school’s puritanical social order. She starts a service where she pretends to have had encounters with unpopular boys to boost their social standing. However, her plan eventually spirals out of control, forcing her to confront the consequences of the persona she created.

‘Crazy, Stupid, Love.’ (2011)

Emma Stone portrays Hannah Weaver, a law student who is initially unimpressed by the advances of a smooth-talking womanizer named Jacob Palmer. She is in a committed relationship with a dull but dependable boyfriend and is focused on her future career. However, after a fight with her boyfriend, she impulsively seeks out Jacob.

Hannah’s life becomes unexpectedly complicated when she discovers that Jacob has been mentoring her recently separated father on how to pick up women. This revelation connects the film’s various storylines and forces her to re-evaluate her relationships with her family and her new romantic interest, leading to both humorous and heartfelt moments.

‘Battle of the Sexes’ (2017)

Emma Stone stars as tennis champion Billie Jean King in this biographical film. The story focuses on the events leading up to the famous 1973 tennis match against former men’s champion Bobby Riggs. King is a fierce advocate for gender equality in the sport, fighting for equal prize money after discovering tournaments paid women significantly less.

While dealing with the immense public pressure of the match, King also grapples with her own personal life, including her marriage and a burgeoning affair with her hairdresser, Marilyn Barnett. The film explores her struggle for professional equality and her journey of self-discovery as she comes to terms with her own sexuality.

‘Zombieland’ (2009)

In this horror-comedy, Emma Stone plays Wichita, a cunning and resourceful survivor of a zombie apocalypse. Traveling with her younger sister, Little Rock, she uses her wits and a healthy dose of distrust to stay alive. The sisters are con artists who are adept at tricking other survivors to get by.

Wichita and her sister cross paths with two other survivors, Columbus and Tallahassee, and an uneasy alliance is formed. Despite her tough exterior and initial reluctance to trust anyone, she gradually opens up and becomes a key member of their makeshift family as they travel across the country in search of a sanctuary.

‘The Croods’ (2013)

In this animated feature, Emma Stone voices Eep, the adventurous teenage daughter of a prehistoric family. Her overly cautious father, Grug, insists the family live by one rule which is to never leave the safety of their cave. Eep is deeply curious about the world outside and yearns for experiences beyond their sheltered existence.

Her rebellious nature leads her to encounter Guy, a more evolved boy who warns of a coming disaster. Eep’s decision to trust Guy and embrace his modern ideas puts her in direct conflict with her father’s traditional mindset. She represents the spirit of curiosity and the courage required to face the unknown and adapt to a changing world.

‘Cruella’ (2021)

Emma Stone takes on the title role in this origin story for the classic villain, set in the punk rock movement of 1970s London. She plays Estella, a clever and creative aspiring fashion designer with a mischievous streak. After a series of events leaves her orphaned, she grows up on the streets with two fellow thieves.

Estella eventually lands a job at a prestigious fashion house run by the formidable Baroness von Hellman. As she learns the darker side of the fashion industry, Estella embraces her wicked side and transforms into her alter ego, Cruella. She uses her design talent to stage elaborate and rebellious fashion events, challenging the Baroness for control of the London fashion scene.

‘Superbad’ (2007)

In one of her earliest film roles, Emma Stone plays Jules, a popular high school student who is the object of affection for one of the main characters, Seth. She invites Seth to a party she is hosting, asking him to provide the alcohol, which sets the entire plot of the movie in motion.

Jules is depicted as a smart and friendly teenager who is largely unaware of the chaotic and misguided quest that Seth and his friends embark on to fulfill her request. Her character is central to the film’s premise, serving as the catalyst for the night of misadventures experienced by the protagonists as they try to navigate the end of their high school years.

‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ (2012)

Emma Stone portrays Gwen Stacy, a smart and charismatic high school student who is a classmate of Peter Parker. As the head intern at Oscorp, she is scientifically brilliant and plays a key role in the story’s development. She becomes Peter’s primary love interest, and their relationship is a central focus of the film.

Unlike other love interests in superhero stories, Gwen is an active and capable participant in the action. She uses her scientific knowledge to help Peter develop his web-shooters and create an antidote to the Lizard’s serum. Her intelligence and bravery make her a crucial ally to Spider-Man, not just a damsel in distress.

‘Maniac’ (2018)

In this limited series, Emma Stone plays Annie Landsberg, a woman fixated on her broken relationships with her mother and sister. She becomes a participant in a mysterious pharmaceutical trial that promises to cure all mental ailments. Annie joins the trial under false pretenses, hoping the experimental drugs can resolve her past trauma.

Inside the trial, Annie and another participant, Owen Milgrim, find their consciousnesses linked as they navigate a series of complex, genre-hopping hallucinations. The process forces her to confront her deepest regrets and the defense mechanisms she has built up, exploring themes of connection, grief, and the nature of reality.

‘The Curse’ (2023)

Emma Stone stars as Whitney Siegel, who co-stars with her husband Asher in a problematic new home-improvement television show. The series follows the newly married couple as they try to launch their show while also attempting to conceive a child and navigate the complexities of their relationship.

Their lives are thrown into disarray by an alleged curse that disturbs their personal and professional endeavors. The show explores the ethical and moral compromises they make for their reality TV careers, satirizing the worlds of home renovation shows and performative altruism while their marriage unravels under the pressure.

What is your favorite Emma Stone performance from her diverse career?