Emma Stone really did shave her head for her role in the new movie Bugonia. She did this on camera while filming a key scene. The movie is directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Stone plays a powerful CEO who is kidnapped by conspiracy theorists. Her real bald look has become a major talking point about the film.
The actress confirmed this big change in an interview with Vogue magazine. She talked about the emotional moment she decided to shave her head. Stone also shared a personal connection to the act, remembering her mother’s experience with cancer treatment.
Bugonia had its first showing at the Venice Film Festival on August 28, 2025. It will open in some US theaters on October 24, 2025. More people will be able to see it everywhere starting October 31, 2025.
The Real Head Shaving Moment
Emma Stone shaved her head during the filming of Bugonia. This was not a digital effect. It happened in a scene where her character, Michelle Fuller, is kidnapped. The men who take her believe she is an alien. They shave her head to stop her from contacting her home planet.
“No better feeling in the world,” Stone told Vogue about the experience. “The first shower when you’ve shaved your head? Oh my God, it’s amazing.”
However, the moment was also emotional. Stone cried just before the scene. She thought about her mother, Krista, who lost her hair during breast cancer treatment. Stone was a teenager when her mother was diagnosed.
“She actually did something brave. I’m just shaving my head,” Stone said.
Her mother is now cancer-free and was very supportive. She even joked about being jealous and wanting to shave her head again herself.
Hiding The New Look From The Public
After shaving her head, Emma Stone had to keep it a secret. She wore hats and wigs in public. She attended events like the Golden Globes in January 2025 with a short pixie cut wig. Many people thought it was her real hair.
“I was bummed I wasn’t going out with it. Just straight-up bald. I think that would have been fun,” Stone said.
The truth came out when the first trailer for Bugonia was released in August 2025. Fans saw the dramatic scene and started asking questions. The trailer quickly spread online and started a lot of discussion.
Support From Friends And The Director
Emma Stone’s good friend, actress Jennifer Lawrence, was not sure about the head shaving at first. Lawrence had already seen Stone cut her hair short for another movie role.
“I really didn’t want her to shave her head. I had already lived through the Billie Jean King haircut,” Lawrence said.
But after seeing it, Lawrence thought Stone looked beautiful and that she pulled off the look well.
Director Yorgos Lanthimos also showed his support. He let Stone shave his head first before she did her own. This was a gesture of solidarity on the film set.
Co-star Jesse Plemons was there during the big scene. He remembered the moment clearly.
“It was like, ‘Here we go—Emily has shaved her head. We better make this good!’” Plemons said.
The Story Of Bugonia
Bugonia is an English-language remake of a 2003 South Korean movie called Save the Green Planet!. The story was written by Will Tracy, who also wrote the movie The Menu.
In the film, Emma Stone plays Michelle Fuller. She is the successful CEO of a pharmaceutical company. Jesse Plemons plays Teddy, a factory worker who believes in conspiracy theories. Teddy becomes convinced that Michelle is an alien who wants to destroy Earth.
Teddy and his friend kidnap Michelle. They take her to their “Headquarters of Human Resistance.” There, they shave her head to block her alien communications. The movie is a mix of dark comedy, thriller, and science fiction.
The supporting cast includes Alicia Silverstone as Teddy’s mother and Aidan Delbis as Don, Teddy’s cousin.
Early Praise At The Venice Film Festival
Bugonia was shown at the Venice Film Festival in August 2025. The audience there loved it. They gave the movie a standing ovation that lasted almost seven minutes.
Early reviews from critics are very positive. They say the movie is a return to top form for director Yorgos Lanthimos. They also praise the performances of Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons.
The movie is seen as a sharp look at modern times. It talks about conspiracy theories, misinformation, and people who feel left behind by society.
Emma Stone’s History With Physical Transformations
This is not the first time Emma Stone has changed her look for a movie role. She often works with director Yorgos Lanthimos. She first worked with him on the 2018 movie The Favourite. For that, she played a servant in the 18th century English royal court.
She worked with him again on Poor Things in 2023. In that film, she played Bella Baxter, a woman brought back to life with the brain of her own baby. The role required a unique physical presence and mannerisms. It won Stone her second Academy Award for Best Actress.
She also worked with Lanthimos on Kinds of Kindness in 2024. In that film, she played multiple different characters.
Stone is known for fully committing to her roles. Shaving her head for Bugonia is another example of her dedication to her craft.
What The Title Bugonia Means
The word “Bugonia” comes from an ancient Greek belief. It was thought that bees could be born spontaneously from the dead bodies of oxen. This strange idea fits the movie’s themes of conspiracy and unusual beliefs.
The movie uses this idea to explore how people can believe things that seem very illogical to others.
Where To See The Movie
Moviegoers in the US can first see Bugonia on October 24, 2025. This is a limited release in only some theaters. The movie will then open wide in many more theaters on October 31, 2025.
The film will also be shown at other film festivals around the world. This includes the Telluride Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival.
Fans of Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos are eagerly waiting to see their latest project. Stone’s real bald head is sure to be one of the most talked-about parts of the movie.
Credits: Vogue, Deadline
