In a few months’ time (on 6th November, to be precise), actress Emma Stone will turn 30. If her latest cover profile for US Elle’s September issue, in which the La La Land star is interviewed by fellow actress and close friend Jennifer Lawrence, is anything to go by, she’s been dedicating plenty of time to thinking about this upcoming birthday: not just thinking, but, in her own words, ‘ruminating.’ Happily, her ruminations are almost entirely positive, with the star emphasising how the advent of this milestone has caused her to think deeply about her career choices – and to embrace the importance of friendship even further.
Looking back on a period that started with a breakout role in Superbad and finished with an Academy Award win and the lead role in a new Netflix show, Maniac, the actress mused: ‘My twenties were a really interesting time, and there’s been a lot that has happened in these past 10 years, both positive and not as positive.’ Now, with a new decade ahead of her, Emma believes that she’s able to view her career choices with a greater clarity. ‘It’s weird how much turning 30 crystallizes your life.,’ she said. ‘Instead of just living the dreams that I had in my youth and getting to do the job that I love to do and making friends and going through all of that, it’s like, “Now what do I actively want as an adult?” It’s been an interesting thing to ruminate on.’ Indeed, Emma's career appears to be going from strength to strength right now: as well as Maniac, which will land on Netflix next month, she'll soon appear in The Favourite, an absurdist black comedy from cult director Yorgos Lanthimos that's already generating awards buzz, and has signed up for Greta Gerwig's ridiculously star-studded Little Women adaptation.
Along with her Elle interviewer Jennifer Lawrence, Emma’s high-profile friendship circle includes the likes of Brie Larson (who has previously told Vanity Fair that their friendship ‘saved [her] life’ at a pivotal point in her career) and Taylor Swift. With 30 on the horizon, she’s now even more acutely aware of the importance of having a great support network. ‘I think friendship is pretty much everything,’ she told Jennifer. ‘Here’s another turning-30 thing I’ve realized: You pick your family. You realize that your friendships, the people who go with you into these next phases of your life – you’re choosing your family.’
The narrative around friendship in your thirties isn’t always this positive: it often focuses instead on how diverging commitments and concerns - anything from differing relationship statuses to busy work schedules to childcare - can cause divides to open up. So, it's certainly refreshing to read Emma's more optimistic take, re-emphasising the benefits of surrounding yourself with the right people. Though our own friendship circles are probably a little less starry, it's definitely something to bear in mind next time you're about to flake on plans...
Look back at Emma Stone's style evolution in the gallery below...
Emma Stone Style - Grazia
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Young Hollywood Awards, April 27th 2008.
Young Emma wore a purple sleeveless dress with silver heels.
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Fox All-Star Winter TCA Party, 2007.
Younger Emma wore a navy patterned dress and nude heels, and styled her long red hair in loose curls.
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Replay Brand party, 2006.
Younger Emma rocked brunette locks, a full fringe, and a casual jeans and t-shirt ensemble.
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La La Land* premiere at the 73rd Toronto International Film Festival, September 12th 2016.
Emma wore a pale yellow embellished dress and pushed her hair back with a headband.
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The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electron* Premiere in Berlin, April 15th 2014.
Emma rocked in a red and blue gown with gold fringing and gold heels.
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The premiere of La La Land at the 73rd Venice Film Festival, August 31st 2016.
Emma wore a metallic pale blue fringed high-neck Atelier Versace gown on the red carpet, and styled her hair in a sleek updo.
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The premiere of Irrational Man at the 68th Annual Cannes Film Festival, May 15 2015.
Emma looked amazing when she wore a floor-length pale blue lace gown, complimenting her ivory complexion.
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The premiere of Aloha in Los Angeles, May 27th 2015.
Emma donned an ivory embellished fringed Emilio Pucci dress underneath an ivory blazer, with pointed stilettos.
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The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electron* photocall in London, April 9th 2014.
Emma stunned in a grey checked trouser suit and white collared blouse, paired with black pointed heels.
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The 87th Academy Awards Nominee Luncheon, February 2nd 2015.
Emma looked adorable in a striped top and polka dot midi skirt by Michael Kors.
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Film Independent Spirit Awards, Feb 21 2015.
Emma stunned on the red carpet in a black lace midi Monique Lhullier dress with cut-out sides, making her fiery red hair stand out.
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The La La Land photocall at the 73rd Annual Venice Film Festival, August 31st 2016.
Emma opted for a contrasting pink and green patterned Giambattista Valli dress and Jimmy Choo heels.
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The Vanity Fair Oscar Party, February 22nd 2015.
Emma wore a red and gold plunging metallic Altuzzara gown with lace collar insert.
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The Cast of The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electron visit the Empire State Building in honor of Be Amazing Volunteer Day, April 25th 2014.
Emma stood out in a scarlet red mini dress with embellished collar, and rocked a full fringe.
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Nice Airport, May 16th 2015.
Emma even looks stylish off-duty, wearing a long camel-coloured coat, white blouse, dark jeans and white trainers.
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The 'Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology' Costume Institute Gala, May 2nd 2916.
Emma wowed on the red carpet, debuting black hair and wearing a plunging white gown with leather corset.
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Aloha* screening at Soho Hotel in London, May 16th 2015.
Emma opted for a blue and yellow sleeveless Ulyana Sergeenko gown with pocket detailing, and white pointed Christian Louboutin stilettos.
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The Writers Guild Awards, July 9th 2015.
Emma looked beautiful in an ivory embroidered midi Giambattista Valli dress with flower detailing.
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The 68th Annual Cannes Film Festival, May 15th 2015.
Emma looked truly stunning when she wore a black lace dress and pointed stilettos, and dyed her hair a soft strawberry-blonde.
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The Birdman premiere at the 71st Venice Film Festival, August 27th 2014.
Emma opted for a plunging forrest green floor-length gown and cut her auburn hair into a bob at the Venice Film Festival, and she looked amazing.
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The 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, January 25th 2015.
Emma wowed on the red carpet in a sheer black tuxedo-gown by Christian Dior, with bright red lipstick and a slick updo.
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The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electron* premiere in Rome, April 14th 2014.
Emma wowed in a sheer glittery pussy bow gown, and wore her dark auburn hair in an updo.
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The 68th Golden Globes Awards, January 16 2011.
Emma wore a peach Calvin Klein floor-length gown and dyed her hair bleach blonde, looking totally striking.
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Magic In The Moonlight' premiere in New York, July 17th 2014.
Emma looked beautiful in a royal blue floral Dolce and Gabbana dress, alongside boyfriend-at-the-time and co-star Andrew Garfield.
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The Hammer Museum Gala, October 10th 2015.
Emma wore a lace Bottega Veneta gown and styled her hair in an updo.
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The 87th Academy Awards, February 22nd 2015.
Emma looked amazing in a pale green embellished beaded Elie Saab gown with thigh-split, and heels to match.
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'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Costume Institute Gala, May 5th 2014.
Emma wowed in a pink crop top and pink floor-length wrap skirt with thigh-split by Thakoon, and wore her hair in a pretty side french plait.
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The 19th Annual Mark Twain Prize, October 23rd 2016.
Emma dazzled in a burgundy gown with sparkly trim and embroidery, with a slick of berry-coloured lipstick to complete the autumnal look.
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The 72nd Annual Golden Globes, January 11th 2016.
Emma wowed on the red carpet in a silver jeweled top and black cigarette trousers with an oversized bow belt by Lanvin. She also wore fierce wing eyeliner and berry-coloured lipstick.
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CDFA/Vogue Fashion Fund Show and Tea Party, October 26th 2016.
Emma wore a buttoned white shirt and ruffle pencil skirt with silver sandal heels.
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La La Land* premiere in California, December 6th 2016.
Emma wowed in a blue embellished Prada gown with her hair in a sleek up-do.
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The Critics Choice Awards, December 11th 2016.
Emma wore a custom halter-neck dress with cut-outs by Roland Mouret and looked amazing.
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W Magazine Celebrates the Best Performances Portfolio and the Golden Globes, January 5th 2017.
Emma looked stunning in a lemon one-shouldered patterned dress by Gucci.
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BAFTA Tea Party, January 7th 2017.
Emma opted for a orange and white polka dot halter midi dress and Mary Jane heels.
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The 74th Golden Globe Awards, January 8th 2017.
Emma dazzled in a Valentino embellished gown (which was surely a nod to her film, La La Land), Jimmy Choo Minny sandals, and Tiffany & Co jewellery.
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Gala screening for La La Land in London, January 12th 2017.
Emma wore a burgundy slip dress by The Row and styled her hair in Hollywood curls.
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Hand and Foot Ceremony, 7th December 2016.
Emma looked lovely in a yellow floaty midi dress by Rochas.
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La La Land* premiere in Paris, January 10th 2017.
Emma wowed in a red and gold embellished Chanel gown whilst promoting her hit film.
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Women in Entertainment Breakfast, December 7th 2016.
Emma was a ray of sunshine in a yellow mini shift dress with bell sleeves.
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At the BAFTAs Emma dazzled in a silver bejeweled Chanel Haute Couture gown with trousers to match.
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At the Golden Globes Emma wore a starry plunging Valentino gown (a nod to 'City of Stars', perhaps?) and looked utterly beautiful.
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At the SAGs Emma opted for a sheer, lace embroidered Alexander McQueen gown.
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Emma wore a gold Givenchy gown to the Oscars, and picked up the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in La La Land.