Emma Stone Panicked Moments Before Shaving Her Head for Bugonia
September 6, 2025: During a Q&A event with director Yorgos Lanthimos in New York City on September 3, Emma Stone revealed that she got “cold feet” on the very day she was supposed to shave her head for her role in Bugonia. The high-stakes scene required capturing the moment in one take with multiple sensitive VistaVision cameras in place—which made her anxiety skyrocket.
Why the Shave Was Essential — and How She Found Courage
Stone explained that she knew about the head shave from the moment she read the script, yet that didn’t ease the nerves. When panicking set in, it was a memory of her mother Krista’s bravery during her chemotherapy—when she lost her hair—that brought Stone back from the edge. Recalling her mother’s words, “I am so jealous, I want to shave my head again,” she realized this was “hair,” not something monumental—and she pressed on.
Liberating Moment or Emotional Turning Point?
The scene in Bugonia became more than a bold act—it was emotionally resonant. Stone went from tears to triumph, calling the initial shower post-shave “amazing” and “one of the greatest experiences” of her life.
From Fear to Freedom: What Fans and Friends Said
Even longtime friend Jennifer Lawrence had mixed feelings. She admitted she initially didn’t want Stone to shave her head—having already endured the dramatic potential of another drastic haircut from Stone’s past. But once she saw the result, Lawrence was full of praise: “Honestly, she looked beautiful.”
The Buzz Around Her Transformative Look
Bugonia features Emma Stone as a pharmaceutical CEO kidnapped by conspiracy theorists. The head-shaving happens on camera, with no CGI, and the rawness of the scene stirred a wave of reactions—from viral Reddit posts comparing her to iconic characters like Natalie Portman in V for Vendetta, to descriptions of the moment as “fabulous.”
Quick Recap
| Moment | Details |
|---|---|
| Cold Feet | Anxiety on the day of the on-camera head shave after 18 months of mentally preparing. |
| Emotional Anchor | Her mother’s own experience with hair loss gave her courage. |
| Liberating Result | Called the experience “one of the greatest” and found it deeply freeing. |
| Friend’s Reaction | Jennifer Lawrence initially hesitant, later praised how beautifully Stone pulled it off. |
Emma Stone’s Bugonia transformation was more than just physical—it was deeply emotional, rooted in family history and courage. If you’d like, I can craft a shorter blurb for social channels or a feature-style version for print.
Published by HOLR Magazine