Emma Stone has addressed the criticism surrounding the explicit sex scenes featured in her recent successful film, Poor Things.
The film, which has already earned Stone the Best Actress accolade at the Golden Globes, where the movie also secured the title of Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture, revolves around Stone’s character, Bella Baxter. Bella is brought back to life by a scientist who replaces her brain with that of a baby. Adapted from the 1992 Alasdair Gray novel of the same name and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the film chronicles Bella’s fantastical evolution as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
While the film is known for its audacity and unflinching candor, it has faced criticism for its explicit sex and masturbation scenes depicting Bella’s exploration of her body and its capabilities.
Emma Stone (Credits: BBC)
Stone defended these scenes during an interview on BBC Radio 4, where host Samira Ahmed characterized them as “quite graphic” and noted their rarity in contemporary Hollywood. Stone responded by emphasizing the importance of staying true to Bella’s experience, asserting that sex is a significant part of her character’s growth, much like in the lives of many people. She regarded it as just one facet among others, such as Bella’s discovery of food, philosophy, travel, and dance.
Stone emphasized the early discussions about Bella’s character being portrayed as completely free and unashamed of her body. Bella, according to Stone, lacks awareness of embarrassment or societal norms dictating concealment, and the decision not to shy away from these aspects on camera was seen as a commitment to honesty about Bella’s character. Stone expressed her belief that censoring or omitting such scenes would compromise the integrity of Bella’s journey, stressing the importance of honoring the character without imposing societal judgments on her experiences.
