Emma Stone Prepares Daughter for Shocking Bald Transformation

Emma Stone is undergoing a dramatic transformation for her new movie role, which includes shaving her head. Ahead of filming, the actress spoke with her 4-year-old daughter, Louise Jean, to prepare her for the unexpected change she would see at home, easing any shock from the sudden bald look during production of the comedy-sci-fi film Bugonia. This conversation took place as Stone did this intense makeover in late October while filming in the United States.

Getting Ready for a Radical Look

In Bugonia, Stone plays Michelle Fuller, a powerful CEO in the pharmaceutical industry who is kidnapped by conspiracy theorists. These abductors believe Fuller is an alien trying to destroy Earth, and as part of their plan to stop her, they shave her head to prevent her from communicating with her supposed mothership. Because of such a significant image change, Stone wanted her daughter to be well-prepared to see her bald, so it would not be frightening.

Stone explained her approach to telling Louise Jean about the haircut:

“I just said, ‘I’m going to shave my head. I’m going to take my hair off and it’s going to grow back. Isn’t that so silly and fun? We can do whatever we want with our hair! It can change all the time.’ She’s like, ‘OK,’ and then was totally cool.”

Emma Stone, Actress

The Pressure of a One-Shot Scene

Stone also had to brace herself mentally for the head shaving, knowing it was a pivotal moment captured on film. Director Yorgos Lanthimos, famous for his meticulous style, stressed the importance of executing this transformation flawlessly, saying that he had

“one chance to do it properly.”

Yorgos Lanthimos, Director

To avoid any technical problems during the shoot, the production team prepared multiple cameras, with Stone recalling they had

“four different cameras ready to go just to make sure none of them jammed.”

Emma Stone, Actress

Despite all preparations, Stone admitted to feeling nervous as delays stretched from minutes into nearly an hour. She recalled,

“They kept saying, ‘We’ll be ready in 10 minutes. Nah, actually 30 minutes. No, actually an hour.’”

Emma Stone, Actress

Finding Calm Amidst the Anticipation

Before filming, Stone acknowledged she experienced a brief moment of anxiety, sitting quietly and building up tension in anticipation of the drastic change. She shared,

“I was sitting there, building the anticipation. So I had a little last-minute freak, and then Yorgos came over, we talked, and I was like, ‘I’m going to be fine. It’s going to be great.’ And I absolutely loved it.”

Emma Stone, Actress

During the shaving, Stone described a focused, almost meditative state, reminding herself to stay still to prevent mistakes. She said,

“telling myself to stay still because if I opened my eyes or flinched, it would really mess things up.”

Emma Stone, Actress

Motherhood and Its Impact on Her Career

Emma Stone became a mother in March 2021, welcoming Louise Jean with her husband Dave McCary. Reflecting on how parenting influences her, Stone praised motherhood as

“the greatest gift of my life”

in a recent Vogue interview. The experience of being a parent has deepened the emotional range she brings to her work, affecting the roles she chooses and how she approaches her craft.

Stone, who earned an Academy Award for portraying Bella Baxter in Poor Things, dedicated her second Oscar win to her daughter, revealing,

“I do think it unlocks different things,”

and adding,

“I feel everything I could possibly feel, because everything has exploded.”

Emma Stone, Actress

Film Release and Anticipation Ahead

Bugonia is scheduled to premiere in select theaters on October 24, with a nationwide release on October 31. The film’s unique storyline and Stone’s bold physical transformation have garnered significant attention. Fans and critics alike are eager to see how the actress brings Michelle Fuller’s complex character and drastic hair change to life on screen.