Top 3: Stone’s acting has showcased her versatility

Gwen Gordon, Entertainment Editor

April 25, 2025

Stone has a credible reputation because of her versatility. Photo courtesy of WIkimedia Commons.

Actress Emma Stone is known for her versatility and commitment to her roles, leading her to win two Golden Globes and two Academy Awards.

She got her start performing in stage productions in middle school and high school, which is where she determined she was going to become an actress. She moved to Los Angeles in search of work when she was fairly young, but it took a while to land any roles.

She auditioned for almost every role at Disney and Nickelodeon unsuccessfully, but her big break finally came in the film Easy A in 2010. Since then, she has performed in a wide variety of genres, earning many awards and nominations.

Here are some of her top film roles.

Top 3: Stone’s acting has showcased her versatility

The Help has won 79 various awards. Photo via DreamWorks Pictures.

The Help (2011)

The Help is set in the 1960s amid the civil rights movement, when an aspiring author named Skeeter (Stone) decides to take a controversial approach to her new story. She decides to interview and then share the insights of the Black maids who are working for White families.

The story has to be kept confidential to protect the maids. Skeeter has views that are seen as radical, and she feels differently about race than the people around her, which often causes her to be judged.

Everyone around her wants her to remain quiet and get married as girls her age traditionally do. But she goes against everyone around her to give a voice to the women of color.

This film was one of Stone's first serious roles; before this, she had played in romances and comedies. This role was more serious, so it was different for her, but she still managed to pull it off and gain acting credibility.

The movie itself was an overall success as well, winning 79 awards in various categories and earning 121 nominations.
‘Cruella’ is the retelling of the classic cartoon ‘101 Dalmatians’. Photo via Walt Disney Pictures.

Cruella (2021)

Cruella is a rendition of the classic One Hundred and One Dalmatians cartoon from 1961, but with a twist. The story is centered around the villain, Cruella de Vil, and her origin story.

De Vil, played by Stone, had a tragic childhood, with her mother being killed in front of her at a young age. She then makes friends with two orphans, Jasper (Joel Fry) and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser), who raise themselves together and then later become her partners in crime.

She always had a dream to become a fashion designer for the most notorious designer, Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson). But when she learns that the Baroness isn't who she imagined, de Vil tries to upstage her to make a name for herself.

Even though this is a Disney film, it was still a serious role for Stone. Her character has to be witty, sarcastic, and emotional, and she manages to pull it off.

In the original movie, de Vil is portrayed as a puppy killer and a mean person. But Stone changes that narrative and shows that the villain might actually have a heart after all, all thanks to Stone’s ability and dedication to her role.
This film was Stones first musical performance. Photo via Summit Entertainment.

La La Land (2016)

La La Land is about an aspiring actress named Mia, played by Stone, and a jazz pianist named Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) who fall in love but don't seem to belong together.

After they meet and brush each other off multiple times, they find a common connection: their struggling careers. They both encourage each other to pursue their dreams and then move in together.

Their careers don't seem to align, though. This would later be their downfall because they both want each other to succeed, but also want themselves to succeed, and there doesn't seem to be a scenario where that works out.

This role was vastly different from any other role Stone has taken on. The film is not only a romance, but it is also a musical.

It's obvious that Stone can act, but she's also able to sing, which shows just how diverse Stone can be in her roles. She's able to perform in a wide range of films remarkably well, with the same dedication each time.

She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her part in this movie. In addition to Stone's individual success with the film, the movie itself was also widely successful, winning 242 total awards, including a Golden Globe.

About the Contributor

Gwen Gordon, Entertainment Editor

Entertainment Editor Gwen Gordon is an entertainment editor in her second year on the Purbalite. She can be found listening to music and reading.

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Top 3: Stone’s acting has showcased her versatility

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