Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos Collaborate on "Poor Things"
If you've seen Emma Stone on any red carpets lately (and she's kind of hard to miss), you might've noticed a tall bearded man close by. He's Greek film director Yorgos Lanthimos, and it seems he and Stone are, in a professional sense, joined at the hip.
By her account the two have spent hundreds of thousands of hours together. "Every second has been, like, a dream," said Stone.
It might be more like a fever dream.
Lanthimos directed Stone in her latest film, "Poor Things," based on the Alasdair Gray novel of the same name. It's an updated take on the Frankenstein story: in this case, a brilliant scientist (played by Willem Dafoe) transplants a baby's brain into a recently-deceased woman, Bella. She quickly evolves from being a really big toddler, to a really smart adult who learns how to dance, how to read, and how to think.
Duncan (Mark Ruffalo): You're losing some of your adorable way of speaking.
Bell (Emma Stone): I'm a changeable feast, as are all of we apparently, according to Emerson.
Critics have hailed the film as a work of fantasy and opulence. It is the outcome of a collaboration between Stone and Lanthimos that they both describe as potentially intense.
To view a preview of "Poor Things" click on the video player below:
They admit to having disagreements, in a way. "I mean, disagreements?" questioned Lanthimos.
"We don't have serious disagreements; we really communicate, strongly, in those moments," Stone said. "But I think we always resolve them relatively quickly."
"We can talk to each other, openly," Lanthimos said. "So it helps."
Lanthimos breaks down inhibitions by having cast members engage in theater games during rehearsals rather than simply reading through the script. And he prefers to keep his set quiet. For example, he never shouts "Action."
"We like to ease into things," he said. "In general, we try to create an atmosphere that doesn't generate tension."
Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo's dance scene from "Poor Things":
Lanthimos obtained the rights to "Poor Things" years ago, but when he attempted to pitch the concept to studios, he was met with rejection. So, he made another film, one with a more conventional artistic vision: 2018's "The Favourite," featuring Stone and Rachel Weisz:
"The Favourite" was also a hit at the Oscars, receiving 10 nominations and one win, and Lanthimos' reputation skyrocketed.
During an interview, Smith asked Lanthimos if the success of "The Favourite" inspired him to pursue his current project. Lanthimos responded affirmatively, stating that people were inquiring about his next venture and he replied with "Poor Things." The film has already received numerous awards, but Stone admits that her character presented a challenge for her. Smith asked if there was ever a moment where Stone doubted her ability to portray the character, to which she replied that she felt uncertain throughout the entire filming process. Stone explains that as a creative person, it is difficult to match the vision in your head with the final product that comes out of your mouth and body.
The Golden Globe voters thought she got it just right, awarding her best actress in a musical or comedy. But Stone told us that "worried" is her natural state of being, and that she's been that way since she was very young.
Does she still have that anxiety? "Oh, yeah, yeah," Stone said. "Not to the level that it was when I was a kid, because I have therapy or I have tools now to manage it in different ways. And as the years go on, you start to learn more about managing what that is. But, yeah, I mean, that's my operating system."
"Have you figured out how to kind of channel it for good?" Smith asked. "Is that possible? If it is, please tell me. Is there a way to channel anxiety for good?"
"Oh, my God, are you kidding me? Anxiety is, like, I feel so lucky to be anxious," Stone replied. "Because I think it can be sort of like a superpower, sometimes. Anxiety is very activating. It gets you out of bed. You kind of can't just stay in one place. It sort of forces you to keep moving. I don't know, I find a lot of positives from it."
It seems she's made the best of it. Case in point: her performance in "La La Land," for which she won an Oscar.
Emma Stone's Career: Beyond Her Wildest Dreams
Emma Stone, known for her incredible acting talent, has once again found herself in the Oscar conversation with her latest movie. However, Stone remains humble and tries not to let the buzz affect her.
When asked how she navigates the pressures of Hollywood, Stone replied, "Just try to hold everything lightly, and not cling too much to any of it. And also, you know, to not take yourself seriously … That's not really an affliction that I struggle with, taking myself super-seriously, because if you were me, you wouldn't take me seriously, either! But yeah. I think you can take your work seriously and not yourself seriously."
Stone is serious about her partnership with Yorgos Lanthimos, with whom she has another project in the works. Their collaboration has been fruitful, and they have more exciting projects on the horizon.
Reflecting on her career, Stone expressed her gratitude, saying, "Oh, it's so far beyond what I dreamt of. I feel so unbelievably grateful on a daily basis, truly. I really, really, really wanted to be on a sitcom. And I can't believe that I get to work with people that I admire and adore and trust, and have been able to play roles that are just so far beyond what I ever imagined. It's nuts. Yeah!"
Emma Stone's journey in the entertainment industry has been nothing short of fantastic. Despite her success, she remains grounded and appreciative of the opportunities that have come her way.
"And I still am open for sitcoms, if you've got anything that you're thinking about."
For more info:
- "Poor Things" is now playing in theaters
Story produced by John D'Amelio. Editor: Georg Pozderec.
See also:
- Behind the sumptuous, monstrous craft of "Poor Things"
- Emma Stone: Dancing among the stars, firmly planted on Earth ("Sunday Morning")
