Emma Stone took on a drastic new look for her character Michelle Fuller in the upcoming sci-fi film ‘Bugonia,’ directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. The actress decided to shave her head as part of her commitment to the role, highlighting the film’s focus on alien conspiracy and intense personal transformation, and drawing attention to the Emma Stone shaved head Bugonia phenomenon.
A Committed Physical Transformation for Sci-Fi Storytelling
In ‘Bugonia,’ Emma Stone plays Michelle Fuller, a powerful biomedical CEO who becomes the target of Teddy, a conspiracy theorist obsessed with aliens. Teddy suspects that the Andromedans, an alien group, are hiding in plain sight among humans, and concludes that Michelle is one of them. He and his cousin Don kidnap her, keeping her in a basement in an attempt to make contact with the supposed extraterrestrial Emperor.
To neutralize Michelle’s alleged alien abilities, Teddy employs unusual methods, such as covering her with antihistamine cream and shaving her head. This act is rooted in his belief that aliens use their hair to communicate with their motherships. Because of this narrative element, Emma Stone’s character is bald for much of the film, making her transformation essential to the story’s authenticity and visual impact.
Understanding the Significance of Going Bald for the Role
Emma Stone realized during early discussions and script reads for ‘Bugonia’ that the role would require her to be completely bald on screen. The script includes a significant moment where Michelle’s head is shaved as Teddy and Don enforce their conspiracy-driven beliefs. Stone understood the importance of this scene in the evolution of both her character and the two conspirators, cementing the reality and gravity of the situation portrayed in the film.
Despite the challenge, Stone was determined to embrace the experience, but she established an unusual condition—she requested that director Yorgos Lanthimos join her in shaving his own head. After Lanthimos agreed, Stone herself buzzed off his hair as a demonstration of solidarity between actor and director. On the day of filming, although Stone felt apprehensive, Lanthimos offered her reassurance and support, helping her get through the filmed head-shaving scene.
Emma Stone’s Personal Motivations: Family Influence and Conversations
Stone’s decision to shed her hair was deeply influenced by her mother, Krista Stone, who underwent chemotherapy after being diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2008. Krista had shaved her own head during treatment, which became a point of connection and inspiration for Emma’s decision. During an NYC post-screening Q&A, Stone recounted the experience, saying:
She (Krista Stone) did something legitimately hard, and she lost her hair. And the first thing she said was, I am so jealous, I want to shave my head again.
— Krista Stone, Emma Stone’s mother
Emma Stone continued to reflect on what the moment meant to her and her mother, stating:
And I was like, I’m shaving my head because I get to do what I love, and my mom was there with me, and I was like, what a gift! It’s hair. So it was actually one of the greatest experiences of my life, very freeing, and it’s just hair. I thought it would be longer by now, but it’s just hair!
— Emma Stone
Beyond her mother’s encouragement, Stone also had to consider how her dramatic new look might impact her young daughter, Louise Jean, who is four years old. Knowing she would need to keep her head shaved throughout production—sustained by hair and makeup designer Torsten Witte and team, who would shave her head every three days—Stone chose to be open with Louise Jean about the change. She explained the upcoming transformation to her daughter in a candid and playful way, as shared in an interview with USA Today:
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 (Stone’s daughter) like, OK, and then was totally cool.
— Emma Stone, Interview with USA Today
Enduring the Transformation During Filming
Moving beyond the initial head-shaving, the logistics of maintaining her bald appearance required careful planning. Since the events in ‘Bugonia’ take place over several consecutive days in the story, Emma Stone needed to maintain the shaved look throughout the filming schedule. Torsten Witte, the film’s hair and makeup designer, along with his team, managed the demanding process, shaving Stone’s head every three days. This ongoing change became part of Stone’s identity for months, highlighting the commitment she brought to the portrayal of Michelle Fuller.
The process also required Stone to mentally prepare herself and communicate with her family about the significant alteration to her appearance. These conversations ensured that she had support both on and off the set, reinforcing the sense of community behind this transformation.
The Impact of a Bold Creative Decision
Emma Stone’s willingness to shave her head added a crucial realistic dimension to the character of Michelle Fuller, aligning with Lanthimos’s intense vision for Bugonia. The experience was liberating for Stone, as reflected in her public remarks, and introduced an extra layer of authenticity and intensity to the film’s exploration of personal beliefs and identity. As Stone now sports a new bob cut, she looks back at the period as exhilarating and transformative, grounded by her relationships with her family and her artistic dedication.
With Bugonia poised for release and audiences eager to see Stone’s compelling performance, her shaved head is likely to become a memorable element of both the film and her career, enriching ongoing conversations about dedication, transformation, and the craft of acting in ambitious science fiction cinema.
