THE INSIDER: EMMA STONE

The zombie-fighting actress on Fun Dip, cab rides, and getting the Superbad treatment.

It’s not just an act: Emma Stone really is as cool as she seems.

While her peers busy themselves with late-night table dancing, Stone has actually honed her craft, becoming one of the most reliably smart-but-funny actors of her generation.

And though she’s charming in real life, she now gets to kick some ass onscreen, in the new film Zombieland. Though the movie boasts a superb cast, Stone stands out in every scene, bossing around Woody Harrelson like it’s second nature.

Fresh off a move from Los Angeles to New York, Stone chatted with NYLON about good scripts, cute boys, and fighting zombies.

When you first heard the name of the film, were you like, what is this?

I was like, if it’s called Zombieland, that’s reason enough to crack it open. And then by the third page I was like, this is awesome!

Your character, Wichita, is so bad-ass. Do you find it’s hard, as a young actress, to get good, multi-dimensional roles?

It’s really a matter of having a good script, first and foremost. It’s hard to find a good script, much less a well-written character. But if the script is good, most of the characters usually come together. Sometimes I’ll read a script where a lot of really great people are signed on, and I don’t get it. Whereas there are movies I’ve done that I don’t think people would understand on the page, but that I can see what it could be. I think a lot of it is what you make it. And then you can love something and the movie turns out super shitty, and you don’t know why. Or it turns out great and you weren’t expecting it to. It’s such a crapshoot.

How was it working with Jesse Eisenberg, another actor who, like you, has stayed out of the whole Hollywood party scene?

He’s hilarious. I’ve never seen anything like it, [he has] a style all his own. I love meeting people with a style of their own. Like when I first met Michael Cera, I was like, this kid is something different than anybody you’ve ever met.

You’ve worked with some really big names; is there anyone you’re dying to work with but haven’t yet?

Oh my god, yes. There’s so many that I would just die [to work with]. Love Cameron Crowe. I looove Diane Keaton. She’s the ultimate. I don’t even know if I could be around her, because I’d be just like, [in a quiet voice] “Hey…What are you doing?” I’d just sit there, gawking at her.

Is it weird when people recognize you on the street?

I don’t get paparazzi, I have a very, very, totally normal life. So anytime anybody does recognize me, and they say something, that’s so nice. I’m like, cool!  It’s when people are like, “Hey that’s the girl from Superbad. Look, look, do you see that that’s her?” It’s like, you guys, what are you doing? Just say “hi”, it’s just me. It’s weird. 

You recently moved to New York City – have you had any quintessential New York moments?

Almost throwing up from car sickness in a taxi. That’s a quintessential New York moment.

In the film, Woody Harrelson’s character is searching for a Twinkie. If you were stuck in a post-apocalyptic world, what’s the one thing you’d want to find?

I really love Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, but you would need butter and milk to make it. So at the moment, a bag of Cap Cod potato chips. Or sour cream and onion Pringles. I love chips. Or Giant Chewy Sweet Tarts. Fun Dip maybe? Yeah, something like that.
REBECCA WILLA DAVIS

Visit zombieland.com for more info.



This story was published on October 1, 2009.