Emma Stone. Some of you may not recognize the name — after all, at 22 years old she hasn’t been in the acting game all that long. Yet, within the last five years she’s managed to be a break-out star in every role she’s taken — leading her to snag a part in next summer’s Spider-Man remake as Peter Parker’s first love interest, Gwen Stacy.
But that’s next summer. This summer Stone takes on a central role in the anticipated release of Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling novel “The Help,” released in theaters Wednesday. Stone plays Skeeter Phelan, an aspiring writer in the 1960s who decides to write a tell-all book about the life of black maids. Alongside actresses Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, Stone showcases her dramatic side, which we haven’t seen much of in her previous work. It’s a role that will surely move her out of the supporting actress category and into the spotlight.
For now, get to know Emma Stone a little better by looking back at four of my favorite performances from her.
Jules in “Superbad” (2007) — Emma Stone first showed off her acting chops in this Judd Apatow directed flick. Stone plays Jules, the love interest of man-boy Seth (Jonah Hill) in the R-rated summer hit. You can easily see why Seth would like her — Stone’s character comes across as both funny and genuinely nice, despite being portrayed as the popular girl in the film. She’s a character who’s able to hang out with the boys, and I think it’s a role that most resembles the girl-next-door aura that Stone gives off in real life.
Wichita in “Zombieland” (2009) — Wichita was just one great aspect of a fabulous movie staring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg and Abigail Breslin in which zombies take over America.
Stone plays a zombie survivor, who along with her sister, are simply trying to survive, even if it means conning others to get what they need. On the way, the two girls come across Columbus (Eisenberg) and Tallahassee (Harrelson), and the four actors play off each other well. Wichita is slightly more devious than Stone’s “Superbad” persona, but still just as fun.
Natalie in “The House Bunny” (2008) — An underrated flick, I might add — “The House Bunny” stars Anna Faris as Shelley, a former Playboy Playmate who gets kicked out of Hef’s mansion for being too old. With nowhere to go, Shelley stumbles upon a socially-awkward sorority that happens to need a den mother, as well as a major makeover. Stone plays Natalie, the president of the sorority, as well as the resident geeky girl who can’t catch the boy of her dreams.
It’s hard to believe Stone could ever be the resident geeky girl — her character actually comes off quite normal among the other girls of the sorority — but Stone plays the role in a charming way, and it shows most when she’s interacting with the bubbly, yet slightly dimwitted Shelley.
Olive in “Easy A” (2010) — A new-age take on “The Scarlet Letter,” “Easy A” casts Stone as high school student Olive who gets caught in the middle of a rumor involving her losing her virginity to a college guy. Rather than trying to defend herself from everyone, Olive decides to embrace the image the rumor has created of her. From here, she starts a mock business for boys who have trouble catching the attention of girls. Olive takes their money, and in exchange the boys get to say they had sex with her, therefore boosting their popularity.
Stone’s performance outshines the storyline here — there’s a wonderful scene that will have you in tears involving Olive constantly singing Natasha Bedingfield’s “Pocketful of Sunshine” — and the one-liners she’s given are right on point, especially in the scenes opposite her overly-religious fellow student Marianne (Amanda Bynes)
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