By: debbie lynn elias
In the past four years, EMMA STONE has been in sixteen (yes, 16) films. She dazzled us in “Easy A”, defines “Crazy Stupid Love” with Ryan Gosling and Steve Carrell, made us laugh out loud in “The House Bunny” and “Zombieland” and now, with THE HELP, tackles a role that is perhaps the defining moment of her career – that of “Skeeter”, a strong Southern woman of the 60’s with the foresight and courage of a woman of the 21st Century.
Eloquently and authentically adapted by Tate Taylor from Kathryn Stockett’s novel of the same name, THE HELP is a rare gem indeed. Not only does it celebrate and showcase the friendship and sisterhood of women, it celebrates the love and strength of the 1960’s stereotyped African-American “Southern” household help, as well as the Caucasian women who wanted to break free of the bonds of the archetypical “Old South” societal custom and move forward with Civil Rights and Women’s Rights.
Calling on the talents of Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Sissy Spacek, Allison Janney, Byrce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, and Emma Stone, THE HELP calls out to something in each of us.
During the press tour for THE HELP, I had a chance to ask Emma Stone about not only her role as Skeeter, but her admiration for Viola Davis who plays housekeeper Aibileen Clark, and Stone’s upcoming role as Gwen Stacey in the “Spiderman” reboot, a role which her THE HELP co-star Bryce Dallas Howard just happened to once command.
How did you come to your role and what is it when you read the script or the book, whatever the case may be, that spoke to you that drew you to the character of Skeeter?
I think Skeeter specifically, character-wise and story-wise, hit a chord with me. I just felt that I could kind of relate to her viewpoint in a lot of ways. But I don’t think I possess her bravery, which instantly made me want to play her. I think a lot of times with characters, there’s something in you that you really want to access and that you want to feel at times in your life. Her bravery may have been something that I wanted to feel in that time. That was a big draw. It was also a no-brainer with this story. Just to be involved in this story in any capacity, even if they would let me do craft service on the movie, it would have been great because I just think it’s such an incredible story. That struck a chord with me and with millions and millions and millions of other people.
Viola Davis was just speaking about her belief that she is a good teacher. While she was talking, you were enthusiastically nodding your head up and down, “yes, yes, yes, yes”. What did you learn from Viola working with her?
Oh my God. [Aside to Viola – You can cover your ears if you want because you’re about to hear something really really really personal.] The thing is, the world moves incredibly fast these days. Maybe it’s because of my age and maybe because of the internet culture or something like that. I did my first movie four years ago and my next one will be my sixteenth. That is insane. I think people need to just do a movie like every three years. And in that time you grow so much and you learn so much until your next role. It felt like I have to learn and grow very quickly because these things are gonna be on the screen and it just goes back to back to back. It’s like being in an acting class that everyone can see instead of just your fellow students. So, with every movie I feel like I learn so much from the actors because it’s like taking Masters Classes with each experience.
With Viola, this is embarrassing to say in front of you so I can’t look at you – the thing about Viola is that she’s like nothing I’ve ever seen or experienced before in that I, for the first time in my life, forgot to act in scenes. It’s like she’s imbued with a different kind of presence. That’s why I’m not surprised that you [Viola] say you couldn’t do any other job [besides acting]. You were put here to do what you do and you change lives doing what you do. And you changed my life doing what you do just being in scenes with her. And then her advice is like so amazing. The day that I came to you and said, “No, no, no I don’t know what I’m doing and I just feel like I’m not getting there. I feel like I’m not getting there. What do you think, Viola? I don’t want you to give me notes, but what do you think?” [Bursting into hysterical laughter…] She’s like, “I’m worried about what I’m doing. I can’t think about how you’re getting to your there. Just do your own thing.” Just lessons like that. But there was just so much I learned not only in what she said but in the way she does it. I also realized that you can’t teach what she does. So, I never expect to get anywhere near that.
And you’re taking over Bryce’s [Dallas Howard] role in SPIDERMAN.
[Laughing] Not taking over, just assuming it. We both play Gwen Stacey.
Did you get to talk about the role or did she give you any tips?
No. This takes place with Gwen in high school. Hers was grown up and older. Not a prequel, more of a reboot.
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