Emma Stone’s Dramatic On-Screen Transformation and Recent Public Engagements
In a striking move for her upcoming film Bugonia, acclaimed actress Emma Stone, 36, embraced a dramatic on-screen transformation, opting to shave her head live during filming. This bold decision, a testament to her commitment to character, has sparked conversation, particularly drawing a candid reaction from her longtime friend and fellow Oscar-winner, Jennifer Lawrence, 34.
Directed by Greek auteur Yorgos Lanthimos, 51, Bugonia marks the pair’s fourth feature-length film collaboration, following their critically lauded work on The Favourite and the two-time Academy Award-winning Poor Things (2023), for which Stone earned her second Best Actress Oscar. The highly anticipated film, set to hit theaters on October 31, is a reimagining of the 2003 South Korean cult classic, Save the Green Planet!.
A Recent Glimpse: “Eddington” Premiere
Adding to her busy schedule and anticipation for her upcoming projects, Emma Stone recently graced the Los Angeles Premiere of A24’s “Eddington” at the DGA Theater Complex on June 26, 2025.
Behind the Scenes of “Bugonia”
In Bugonia, Stone portrays a fictional pharmaceutical CEO who finds herself kidnapped by a pair of eccentric conspiracy theorists, played by Jesse Plemons, 37, and Aidan Delbis. A pivotal scene in the movie features Stone’s character undergoing a live head-shaving, an act the actress performed authentically for the camera, as revealed in a recent Vogue cover story.
Jennifer Lawrence, a close confidante of Stone, confessed her initial apprehension regarding the drastic haircut. “I really didn’t want her to shave her head,” Lawrence shared with Vogue. She elaborated on her hesitation, drawing a parallel to Stone’s previous significant hair alteration for her 2017 role as tennis legend Billie Jean King in Battle of the Sexes, stating, “I had already lived through the Billie Jean King haircut.”
Despite her reservations, Lawrence ultimately praised Stone’s striking new look. “Honestly, she looked beautiful,” Lawrence affirmed, adding, “She pulled it off.” Stone herself echoed this sentiment, expressing exhilaration over the experience. “No better feeling in the world. The first shower when you’ve shaved your head? Oh my God, it’s amazing,” she told the outlet.
The on-set atmosphere surrounding the scene was reportedly charged with anticipation. Co-star Jesse Plemons recalled the moment, stating, “‘Here we go—Emily has shaved her head.’” He then added, “We better make this good!”
For Stone, the act carried a profound personal resonance. She revealed that prior to her own on-camera shave, she had, in a gesture of solidarity, shaved director Lanthimos’s hair. The emotional weight of the moment became clear after her own transformation, as the actress reflected on her mother, Krista Stone’s, experience. Krista had shaved her head years prior during breast cancer treatment. Comparing her own choice to her mother’s courageous battle, Stone humbly stated, “She actually did something brave. I’m just shaving my head.” Her mother, upon hearing of Emma’s new look, even expressed a wish: “My mom was like, ‘I’m so jealous. I want to shave my head again.’”
The deep bond between Stone and Lawrence extends beyond shared cinematic experiences. The palpable closeness was evident during the 2023 Academy Awards, where Stone received her second Best Actress Oscar for Poor Things. Lawrence, who was on stage alongside presenter Michelle Yeoh, was handed the coveted statuette by Yeoh so she could personally award it to her dear friend. Lawrence recounted their private celebration: “In true Emily form, as soon as we got offstage and ran into the bathroom to scream and cry. I whispered, ‘Two-time best-actress winner,’ and she replied, ‘I feel like that’s bad, though.’”
As Bugonia prepares for its Halloween release, audiences will witness not only Emma Stone’s latest powerful performance but also the tangible embodiment of her artistic dedication, head shaved and all.
