Words by Emma Stone built her career on timing. Early on, it was comic timing, the quick delivery and raspy voice that made her a scene-stealer in teen comedies. Later, it was the timing of her choices, as she moved into bold dramatic roles and riskier films that earned her two Academy Awards.
Early life
Emily Jean Stone was born on November 6, 1988, in Scottsdale, Arizona. She began acting in youth theater as a child. At 15, she persuaded her parents to let her move to Los Angeles with her mother to pursue acting, after presenting them with a PowerPoint pitch she titled “Project Hollywood.”
Because another Emily Stone was already registered with the Screen Actors Guild, she adopted the name Emma.
Comedy breakthrough
Stone’s film debut came in “Superbad” (2007), the hit teen comedy. She followed with “Zombieland” (2009) and then her first leading role, “Easy A” (2010), a high school comedy loosely inspired by “The Scarlet Letter.” The film earned her a Golden Globe nomination and established her as a leading lady.
She also appeared in “Crazy, Stupid, Love” (2011), the first of her pairings with Ryan Gosling, and “The Help” (2011), a drama set in 1960s Mississippi.
Blockbusters and Broadway
Stone played Gwen Stacy in “The Amazing Spider-Man” (2012) and its 2014 sequel. She made her Broadway debut as Sally Bowles in “Cabaret” in 2014.
In “Birdman” (2014), she played the daughter of Michael Keaton’s faded actor and received her first Oscar nomination.
La La Land
Damien Chazelle’s musical “La La Land” (2016) reunited her with Gosling. Stone played Mia, an aspiring actress in Los Angeles, and did her own singing, including the audition number “Audition (The Fools Who Dream).” She won the Academy Award for best actress, as well as a Golden Globe and BAFTA.
Yorgos Lanthimos
Stone formed a creative partnership with Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos. In “The Favourite” (2018), she played a scheming cousin in the court of Queen Anne and received another Oscar nomination.
Their next collaboration, “Poor Things” (2023), cast Stone as Bella Baxter, a woman brought back to life by an eccentric scientist who discovers the world with fearless curiosity. Stone also served as a producer. She won her second best actress Oscar in 2024. The pair continued with “Kinds of Kindness” (2024) and “Bugonia” (2025).
Other work
Stone played tennis champion Billie Jean King in “Battle of the Sexes” (2017) and starred in the Netflix limited series “Maniac” (2018) with Jonah Hill. She played the title villain in Disney’s “Cruella” (2021). She co-created and starred in the Showtime series “The Curse” (2023) with Nathan Fielder.
Through her production company, Fruit Tree, which she runs with her husband, she has produced films and television, including the comedy “Problemista” and “I Saw the TV Glow.”
Personal life
Stone married Dave McCary, a writer and director known for his work on “Saturday Night Live,” in 2020. They have a daughter.
She has spoken openly about her experience with anxiety since childhood, and about how acting and improvisation helped her manage it.
Where to start
Watch “Easy A,” “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” “Birdman,” “La La Land” and “Poor Things.” In that sequence, you can see a comic actress grow into one of the most adventurous stars in film.
Why she stands out
Stone’s career shows an unusual willingness to follow her instincts. After winning an Oscar for a crowd-pleasing musical, she could have stayed in safe territory. Instead she chose strange, demanding projects with directors who push boundaries, and she began producing to help other filmmakers do the same. That combination of mainstream appeal and artistic risk is why critics and audiences continue to watch what she does next.
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