Emma Stone Gratefully Acknowledges Daughter in Heartfelt Best Actress Oscar Victory: Bringing Color to Our Lives

Emma Stone Wins Best Actress for Poor Things at the Oscars

Emma Stone. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Emma Stone won the Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the 2024 Oscars for her performance in Poor Things. During her acceptance speech on Sunday, March 10, she made sure to give a special shout-out to her family.

Stone, 35, expressed her gratitude towards her loved ones, saying, "I know I have to wrap up, but I really just want to thank my family." She mentioned her mom, brother Spencer, dad, and husband, Dave McCary, expressing her love for them. She also mentioned her daughter, who was about to turn 3 in three days, and how she has brought color into their lives. Stone ended her speech by saying, "I love you bigger than the whole sky, my girl."

Stone was nominated alongside Nyad’s Annette Bening, Killers of the Flower Moon’s Lily Gladstone, Anatomy of a Fall’s Sandra Hüller and Maestro’s Carey Mulligan at the awards show, which took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday.

“This is really overwhelming,” expressed the winner as she stepped onto the stage. “Sorry, I’m a bit - okay, my voice is a bit off too. But hey, the women on this stage, you are all amazing! And to the women in this category, Sandra, Annette, Carey, Lily, I share this with all of you. I'm truly in awe of you. It has been such an honor to be a part of this journey together, and I hope we can continue doing more great things together. I'm not even sure what I'm saying right now."

Stone remembered receiving advice from Yorgos Lanthimos, the director of Poor Things, that helped her regain her composure.

During a moment of panic, Yorgos reminded Stone to focus on the team effort that brought their project to life, rather than on herself. This perspective shift was crucial in realizing that the project was about collaboration and creating something bigger than any individual contribution.

She expressed her gratitude towards her cast, crew, and director. She specifically thanked Yorgos for the opportunity to play Bella Baxter, calling it a gift of a lifetime. She also expressed her eternal gratitude for him and for including all of them as part of the team. Thank you.

Emma Stone Wins Best Actress for Poor Things at the Oscars

Emma Stone was the sole Academy Award winner in the category before the ceremony. She won Best Actress for La La Land in 2017. Stone also received nominations for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Birdman in 2015 and The Favourite in 2019. Additionally, she was nominated for Best Picture this year for her work as a producer on Poor Things.

Bening, 65, has been nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role on three other occasions: American Beauty in 2000, Being Julia in 2005, and The Kids Are All Right in 2011. She also received a nod for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The Grifters in 1991. Mulligan, 38, also earned nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role for An Education in 2010 and Promising Young Woman in 2021.

For Gladstone, 37, and Hüller, 45, this marked their first-ever Oscar nods.

Gladstone has been a fan favorite during the 2024 awards season. In January, she won the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards, beating out Bening, Mulligan, Hüller, Cailee Spaeny from Priscilla, and Greta Lee from Past Lives. The following month, she also won the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role category at the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards, surpassing Stone, Bening, Mulligan, and Margot Robbie from Barbie.

In her acceptance speech at the SAG Awards, Gladstone expressed, "It's easy to disconnect. It's easy to shut down our emotions, but we all courageously continue to feel, and that is what makes us human. It brings people out of the shadows and into the light; it gives them visibility. I want to thank all the kind-hearted individuals in this room and the storytellers present tonight. Keep sharing your truths and advocating for one another."

Although Gladstone won at the SAG Awards, Stone also had her own victory at the Golden Globes. She won Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, triumphing over Robbie, Alma Pöysti from Fallen Leaves, Fantasia Barrino from The Color Purple, Jennifer Lawrence from No Hard Feelings, and Natalie Portman from May December.

During her acceptance speech, Stone shared that she sees Poor Things as a romantic comedy. She explained that the character Bella falls in love with life itself, rather than a person. Bella accepts both the good and the bad in equal measure, which has changed Stone's perspective on life. She emphasized that every part of life is significant and valuable.

Editor's P/S:

Emma Stone's heartfelt acceptance speech at the 2024 Oscars showcased her deep appreciation for her family, particularly her daughter. Her words resonated with the universal bond of love and support within families. Stone's journey as an actress has been marked by numerous accolades, including her previous Oscar win for La La Land. This time, her performance in Poor Things brought her back to the stage, where she acknowledged the collaborative nature of filmmaking and the importance of recognizing the contributions of everyone involved.

The article also highlights the achievements of other talented actresses nominated in the Best Actress category. Annette Bening, Lily Gladstone, Sandra Hüller, and Carey Mulligan have all left their mark on the industry with their exceptional performances. Gladstone's success at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards demonstrates her growing recognition and the impact of her work in shedding light on important issues. Emma Stone's victory, along with the nominations for these other actresses, underscores the diversity and talent within the acting community, inspiring future generations to pursue their dreams in the arts.