Emma Stone: Actress and Advocate for Women’s Rights
Emma Stone, born on November 6, 1988, is an acclaimed American actress and producer. Over the years, she has earned prestigious accolades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), and two Golden Globe Awards. In 2017, she was named the world’s highest-paid actress and was recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Her acting career started early with her first role in a 2000 theater production of The Wind in the Willows. As a teenager, she moved to Los Angeles. She debuted on television in In Search of the New Partridge Family (2004). Emma Stone soon gained wider recognition through teen comedies like Superbad (2007) her first lead role. She also starred as Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and its 2014 sequel.
Achievements and Career Highlights
Stone received two Academy Awards for Best Actress, one for La La Land (2016) and another for Poor Things (2023). Additionally, she was nominated for her roles in Birdman (2014) and The Favourite (2018). She portrayed tennis legend Billie Jean King in Battle of the Sexes (2017) and took on the title role in Cruella (2021). On television, she starred in the dark comedy miniseries Maniac (2018) and The Curse (2023).
Her Broadway work includes playing Sally Bowles in a revival of Cabaret from 2014 to 2015. In 2020, Stone and her husband, Dave McCary, launched the production company Fruit Tree. Together, they have produced films such as When You Finish Saving the World (2022), Problemista (2023), and I Saw the TV Glow (2024).
| Born | Emily Jean Stone November 6, 1988 (age 35), U.S. |
|---|---|
| Other names | Riley Stone |
| Occupations | Actressproducer |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Organization | Fruit Tree |
| Works | Full List |
| Spouse | Dave McCary(m. 2020) |
| Children | 1 |
Early Life
Emma Stone was born on November 6, 1988, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her father, Jeffrey, worked as a general contractor. Her mother, Krista Jean, was a homemaker. She grew up with her younger brother, Spencer. From ages 12 to 15, they lived at the Camelback Inn resort. Her ancestry includes Swedish, German, English, Scottish, and Irish roots. Her paternal grandfather’s Swedish surname, “Sten,” later became “Stone.”
As a child, Stone struggled with baby colic, which led to nodules and calluses forming on her vocal cords. Known for being “loud” and “bossy,” she attended Sequoya Elementary School and Cocopah Middle School, where she excelled academically despite not enjoying school. Stone faced anxiety and panic attacks, which significantly impacted her social skills. However, she found solace and healing through local theater, crediting her involvement in stage productions with helping her overcome her anxiety.
Early Acting Journey and Breakthrough
Her love for acting started at age four. She initially aimed for a career in sketch comedy but soon shifted to musical theater. At 11, she debuted on stage in The Wind in the Willows at Phoenix’s Valley Youth Theatre. She went on to perform in 16 productions there, including The Princess and the Pea and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Stone also auditioned for Nickelodeon’s All That without success but continued to develop her acting skills through private lessons.
During her freshman year, she attended Xavier College Preparatory, an all-girls Catholic high school, but dropped out after one semester to pursue acting full-time. To convince her parents, she created a PowerPoint presentation titled “Project Hollywood” and, in January 2004, moved to Los Angeles with her mother. There, she auditioned extensively, seeking roles on the Disney Channel and other sitcoms, but faced early rejections. While auditioning, she took online high school classes and worked part-time at a dog-treat bakery. Despite the challenges, Stone’s determination ultimately led to her breakthrough in the entertainment industry.
Career
Beginnings (2004–2009): Emma Stone
At age 16, Emma Stone registered with the Screen Actors Guild. Since she couldn’t use her given name, “Emily Stone,” she briefly adopted the stage name “Riley Stone.” However, she eventually settled on “Emma,” inspired by her admiration for Emma Bunton of the Spice Girls. She made her TV debut in In Search of the New Partridge Family (2004), but the show did not move beyond the pilot. Stone went on to guest star in several TV series, including Medium and Malcolm in the Middle. In 2007, she played a role in the Fox drama Drive, which was canceled after a few episodes. Her breakthrough in film came with the comedy Superbad (2007), where she starred alongside Michael Cera and Jonah Hill, launching her career in Hollywood.
Early Film Roles and Struggles (2008–2009): Emma Stone
In 2008, Stone starred in The Rocker, playing a bass guitarist, but the film was a commercial failure. Her next project, The House Bunny, fared better at the box office and increased her recognition. In 2009, she appeared in three films: Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Zombieland, and Paper Man, with Zombieland becoming a notable financial success.
Rise to Prominence (2010–2013)
Emma Stone’s breakthrough came with her starring role in Easy A (2010), a teen comedy that received critical acclaim and established her as a leading actress in Hollywood. She was nominated for several awards, including a BAFTA Rising Star and a Golden Globe. In 2011, she starred in the period drama The Help, based on Kathryn Stockett’s novel, which was a major box office hit. Stone’s performance earned praise, and the film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.
In 2012, Stone starred as Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man, a reboot of the popular superhero franchise. The film was a commercial success, and Stone’s performance was well-received, further cementing her status in Hollywood.
Established Actress (2014–2017)
Stone reprised her role as Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), which performed well at the box office. That same year, she starred in Birdman, a critically acclaimed film that won several Academy Awards. Her performance earned her nominations for an Academy Award, BAFTA, and Golden Globe.
In 2016, Stone starred in La La Land, a musical that became a massive critical and commercial success. Her portrayal of an aspiring actress won her an Academy Award for Best Actress, among other accolades.
Career Expansion and Continued Success (2018–present)
Stone took on more diverse roles, such as starring in Yorgos Lanthimos’s historical comedy-drama The Favourite (2018), which earned her another Academy Award nomination. She also ventured into television with Netflix’s Maniac (2018), receiving critical acclaim for her performance.
In 2021, she portrayed Cruella de Vil in Disney’s Cruella, which was both a critical and commercial hit. Stone also began producing films through her production company, Fruit Tree, continuing to expand her influence in the industry.
Personal life
Emma Stone has maintained a private personal life, avoiding public discussions about her relationships and personal matters. After initially living in Los Angeles, she moved to Greenwich Village, New York, in 2009, before returning to Los Angeles in 2016. Despite being in the public eye, Stone dislikes paparazzi attention and is dedicated to preserving her privacy. She values her profession and is deeply influenced by actress Diane Keaton, whom she admires for her discretion and acting style. Stone is also close with her family, crediting them for keeping her grounded.
In her relationships, Stone dated her Paper Man co-star Kieran Culkin for two years and later, her The Amazing Spider-Man co-star Andrew Garfield for four years. Though they were often photographed together, the couple avoided speaking publicly about their relationship. In 2014, they used a paparazzi encounter to highlight charitable causes, directing attention to websites that raised awareness for autism. They reportedly split in 2015.
Stone met Saturday Night Live segment director Dave McCary in 2016 when she hosted the show. They began dating the following year and announced their engagement in December 2019. They married in September 2020 in a private ceremony. In March 2021, they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Louise Jean. The family now resides in Austin, Texas. Stone has sold properties in Malibu and Los Angeles, with the latter sale occurring in 2024.
Stone has asthma, a condition she discovered while filming Easy A. Her mother was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2008 but successfully recovered. To commemorate this, Stone and her mother got matching bird foot tattoos designed by Paul McCartney, a nod to their shared love for The Beatles’ song “Blackbird.” Stone is also a strong advocate for Planned Parenthood, wearing a pin supporting the organization at the 2017 Academy Awards.
Philanthropy: Emma Stone
Emma Stone has been actively involved in various philanthropic efforts. She participated in a Revlon campaign to raise awareness for breast cancer and appeared in a Star Wars and Stand Up to Cancer collaborative video in 2011 to support cancer research. From 2012 to 2014, Stone hosted the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Revlon Run/Walk, which helped fight women’s cancer.
In 2012, Stone was part of the Nickelodeon HALO Awards, which celebrated teenagers who are “Helping And Leading Others” (HALO). She also supported environmental causes by attending the 2014 Earth Hour, a global event organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature. In 2015, Stone participated in a fundraising event for the Motion Picture & Television Fund, which aids people in the entertainment industry who are in need. Furthermore, in 2018, she joined 300 other women in Hollywood to launch the Time’s Up initiative, aimed at fighting sexual harassment and discrimination.
Acting Credits and Awards
She has been recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with several nominations and wins:
96th Academy Awards: Won Best Actress (Poor Things, 2023), also nominated for Best Picture (Poor Things, 2023
87th Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Supporting Actress (Birdman, 2014)
89th Academy Awards: Won Best Actress (La La Land, 2016)
91st Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Supporting Actress (The Favourite, 2018)
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