Emma Stone has opened up about the difficulties that came with preparing for her latest role in Yorgos Lanthimos’ new film, Poor Things. Stone plays Bella Baxter, a woman resurrected by a mad scientist who transplants the brain of an unborn child into her head, in what the actress describes as a “journey of sexual discovery.” In one scene, Stone’s character is seen eating 60 Portuguese tarts, which proved to be challenging for the actress. Although much has been said about the “explicitly sexual” nature of Bella, Stone says that there were other, more difficult aspects to the role, such as seeing death and decay for the first time.
Stone was recently nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in the film and won the BAFTA award for the same category. The film, which is nominated for a total of 11 awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, has been both praised and criticised. While some viewers have hailed it as a champion for female guile over male idiocy, others have accused it of being sexist and exploitative. Stone, who not only stars in the film but also produced it, dismissed these claims, saying that she saw Bella as an adult and not a child in any of the scenes critics have pointed to.
In a four-star review of the movie, NME praised the film’s blending of old-school techniques and digital trickery and commented on its striking visuals. While the film’s oddball nature may not be to everyone’s tastes, it champions the look and agency of female characters over their male counterparts in a refreshing way.
Despite the film’s dark and unsettling themes, Stone, who has a reputation for being down-to-earth, seems to have taken it all in stride. She likened the experience of seeing the film to the beginning stages of a relationship when everything is new and exciting, but also noted that as time goes by, the romance fades, and the true difficulties of the relationship can begin to surface. Similarly, people’s reactions to the movie have been mixed, with some finding it the sweetest romantic comedy and others having to watch through their fingers
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