Emma Stone’s Gratitude and Humor Shine at BAFTA Awards

Emma Stone expressed gratitude to her mother and screenwriter Tony McNamara during her acceptance speech at the BAFTA Awards on Sunday evening. Stone specifically thanked McNamara for the memorable line, “I must go punch that baby,” from their film “Poor Things.”

“Tony, thank you for the line ‘I must go punch that baby.’ It was life-changing for me,” Stone said, acknowledging McNamara’s contribution. She also extended thanks to director Yorgos Lanthimos, her fellow cast and crew, and her dialect coach Neil Swain.

Stone humorously recounted her experience working on the film, particularly noting Swain’s patience in helping her master the British accent: “I was playing a British person in this movie and [Neil] did not laugh at me when he taught me how to say ‘wart-ter,’ even though as an American I say ‘wahter,'” she quipped.

Acknowledging her mother’s influence, Stone expressed deep appreciation: “Because she’s the best person I know in the whole world and she inspires me every single day.” She credited her mother for instilling in her the belief that she could achieve her dreams.

Stone, who also served as a producer on “Poor Things,” reflected on the significance of the project: “This was the first film that I’ve produced alongside acting, and so it feels doubly meaningful because they’ve just both in front of me behind. It was incredible to be part of it.”

In “Poor Things,” Stone portrays Bella, a character reminiscent of Frankenstein’s creation, navigating a complex and unconventional journey. The film garnered significant attention at the BAFTA Awards, receiving multiple nominations and securing wins in several categories.

Stone’s previous BAFTA win was in 2017 for her performance in “La La Land.” She is also nominated for a Best Actress Oscar at the upcoming Academy Awards.

Despite not winning in all categories, “Poor Things” received considerable acclaim, earning numerous nominations at both the BAFTAs and the Oscars.