Emma Stone: My Real Name Isn’t Emma, It’s Emily

Emma Stone: My Real Name Isn’t Emma, It’s Emily

The movie screens of Belarus have recently featured “Battle of the Sexes,” a film that recounts the most famous tennis match of 1973 between the renowned tennis player Billie Jean King and the veteran Bobby Riggs. Emma Stone brilliantly portrays Billie Jean King, who became a symbol of the fight for gender equality in sports.

Meeting Emma Stone

We met the young star in the morning at the Toronto Film Festival, at the Fairmont Hotel. Emma was dressed in a black double-breasted wool blazer with gold buttons and narrow slacks from Altuzarra, perfectly embodying the style of a modern emancipated woman. Her enormous green eyes were captivating, and her slightly husky voice sounded confident and energetic for such an early hour. Her infectious laughter was full of zest, making it clear that boredom was impossible around her.

The Battle of the Sexes Match

When asked about her knowledge of the real match that gathered 48 million viewers in 1973, Emma admitted she knew little about it before reading the script. She was, however, familiar with Billie Jean King, an icon in the sports world and a symbol of the fight for women’s rights and LGBT activism. The match, which evolved from a popular sporting event into a political milestone, led to significant changes in the American Tennis Association, equalizing prize funds for men and women and popularizing women’s tennis.

Preparation and Filming

Emma revealed that she did not play tennis with Billie Jean King during preparation but practiced serving with her. Despite Billie Jean’s age, her serves were powerful and challenging to return. Emma and Steve Carell, who played Bobby Riggs, had professional doubles for the tennis scenes, highlighting the vast difference between good players and professionals.

Ambition and Victory

Emma does not consider herself highly ambitious. She rarely engaged in sports as a child and never developed a strong drive to win at all costs. During training, her coach made her count points to foster a competitive spirit, but Emma joked that she is better at losing than winning. She emphasized the importance of perseverance.

Winning the Oscar

Winning the Oscar for Best Actress was a dream come true for Emma, especially since Leonardo DiCaprio, her childhood crush, presented the award. The night was unforgettable, despite the confusion surrounding the Best Picture award. Emma’s portrait of Mia in “La La Land” mirrors her own journey to Hollywood from a small town in Arizona at the age of 15. Her determination and humor helped her land significant roles and achieve success.

Life After the Oscar

Emma shared that her life did not change dramatically after winning the Oscar. She immediately flew to Europe to prepare for a film with the Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, feeling euphoric about immersing herself in a new creative project.

For more information about Emma Stone’s career, you can visit her IMDb page.