In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Emma Stone has finally opened up about her decision to conceal her bald head after shaving off her hair on set for her latest movie, “Bugonia”. The actress revealed that she wanted to surprise viewers with the dramatic transformation, which is why she opted to wear a beanie for three months to keep it under wraps.
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Stone shared that her choice to hide her newly shaved head was influenced by the successful reveal of her transformation in the 2023 film “Poor Things”, where she worked with director Yorgos Lanthimos, who also collaborated with her on “Bugonia”. The actress explained that maintaining an element of surprise or an interesting moment was crucial to her decision despite the discomfort of wearing beanies for an extended period.
The actress mentioned that the lack of any leaked pictures or behind-the-scenes shots from the set of “Bugonia” while filming was ongoing played a role in her decision to keep her transformation a secret for some time even after production had wrapped. Stone reflected on the element of surprise that came with unveiling her character’s look in “Poor Things” and noted how enjoyable it was for her when that reveal happened later.
Despite Stone’s initial reservations about her bald look, she eventually grew to love her new appearance after the filming process was completed. It was revealed during a Q&A event for “Bugonia” that the actress had some last-minute nerves before going through with shaving her head, which had to be done in one take to capture the pivotal moment accurately.
The experience of portraying her character with a shaved head was described by Stone as one of the greatest of her life, emphasizing the liberating feeling it brought her. She candidly shared that observing her mother’s journey with hair loss due to chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer reminded her of the impermanence of hair and helped her embrace the change wholeheartedly.
Despite her dedication to maintaining the secrecy of her transformation, Stone never officially debuted her bald look on the red carpet. Instead, she opted to wear a wig for the premiere of “A Real Pain” at the 62nd New York Film Festival and later showcased her grown-out pixie cut at the 2025 Golden Globes. “Bugonia” is set to premiere with a wide release on October 31, creating buzz among fans eager to witness Stone’s bold onscreen transformation.
Through her bold decision to keep her shaved-head transformation hidden until the opportune moment, Emma Stone has not only sparked curiosity among audiences but also set the stage for a memorable reveal in “Bugonia”. Her commitment to the element of surprise and her dedication to portraying her character authentically have undoubtedly added layers of depth to her performance in the film.