On Sunday, Emma Stone secured her second Academy Award in her career, clinching the Best Actress accolade for her portrayal of a resurrected woman in the dark comedy “Poor Things.” The 35-year-old actress not only delivered a remarkable performance but also served as a producer for the Yorgos Lanthimos-directed film. The movie received nominations for Best Picture, marking a rare double honor for Stone. She now stands alongside an esteemed group of actresses, such as Frances McDormand, recognized for 2021’s “Nomadland,” and Meryl Streep, acclaimed for her role in 1987’s “Norma Rae,” who have achieved the distinction of winning Oscars for both leading performances and producing contributions.
The Arizona native is one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors, who can turn in compelling performances in comedic and dramatic projects. After scoring a breakout role in 2007’s Superbad, she stared in a string of popular films, including Crazy, Stupid, Love, A Beautiful Mind, and The Help. Stone has scored multiple BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations in recent years, and her supporting turns in Birdman and the 2017 musical La La Land also landed her an Oscar nod.
For Poor Things, Stone won over a talented field that included Lily Gladstone of Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, Carey Mulligan of Maestro, and Sandra Huller of Anatomy of a Fall. Stone seemed shocked when presenter Michelle Yeoh announced her name and hugged the other previous best actress winners — including Jennifer Lawrence, Sally Field, Charlize Theron, and Jessica Lange.
In her acceptance speech, Stone thanked her parents and her family for their support. She also offered a tribute to the late filmmaker and director James L. Brooks, a longtime friend and mentor who died last year at age 86. She praised Brooks for his “gift of bringing people together through the power of movies.”
Stone also addressed the year’s envelope gaffe during her speech. La La Land was mistakenly awarded best picture instead of Moonlight when its producer, Warren Beatty, handed the award to the wrong winner. She said the mix-up prompted her to think about the importance of awards and how they could affect young people’s choices of movies they see.
