Emma Stone Got Very Candid About the ‘Fear’ She Had Before Taking on Her 'Poor Things' Role

She’s been acting for more than a decade, but Emma Stone will be the first to admit there are still some roles she’s taken on that intimated her. The Oscar-winner‘s latest film, Poor Things, has earned Stone rave reviews for her unbridled performance as Bella, a young woman brought back to life by Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) and exploring the world anew. While Stone was thrilled by the material and excited to collaborate with director Yorgos Lanthimos for a third time, even she confessed to the “fear” she had before taking on the role.

“I definitely didn’t have reservations,” the actress said in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight‘s Rachel Smith. “If anything, I just had fear of not living up to how great this character is. She doesn’t follow. She’s never been taught by society what to be — what she’s supposed to be as a woman.”

Poor Things is adapted from the 1992 novel of the same name by Scottish writer Alasdair Gray. Bella’s journey is one of self-discovery, taking ownership of her own bodily autonomy by belying what others want her to be. Stone conveyed what a challenge such a role was, and what the character demanded of her. “She’s a creature of her own making,” Stone said.

“I think she’s so inspiring to me just because she has such a hunger for life and experiences,” she continued. “She feels so happy to be alive, which is a great reminder — we’re not here for long. And she really takes it all in and drinks up everything, even the hard things. It’s all part of the human experience, it’s all fascinating to her so I think that’s the most inspiring thing that I try to remember, as much as I possibly can.” We can’t wait to see Stone’s latest performance on the big screen.

Poor Things hits select theaters Dec. 8. The film’s wide-release is Dec. 22.

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