Emma Stone had a clear plan for revealing her dramatic shaved-head look for Bugonia.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the actress—who plays pharmaceutical CEO Michelle Fuller in her fourth film with director Yorgos Lanthimos—explained that she deliberately hid her transformation to preserve an element of surprise. For three months, Stone wore beanies on set, despite not enjoying the accessory, to keep fans guessing.
“Something special happened with Poor Things [2023],” Stone said, referencing her previous Lanthimos collaboration. “No one had seen photos of Bella’s long black hair, so when the trailer came out, it was like, ‘Whoa.’ It’s nice when it’s revealed later.”
With no candid shots or behind-the-scenes photos during Bugonia’s production, Stone felt it made sense to continue the secrecy. After filming wrapped, she grew to love her new look, though it wasn’t easy at first.
During a September 3 Q&A for the film, Lanthimos shared that Stone got “cold feet” before shaving her head. The scene had to be filmed in a single take on VistaVision, adding to the pressure. Stone recalled panicking while cameras were being set up, but remembering her mother Krista’s experience with chemotherapy-induced hair loss helped put things in perspective.
Stone described the experience as “very freeing” and added, “It’s just hair. I thought it would be longer by now, but it’s just hair!”
To keep the look private, Stone never debuted her bald head at a red carpet event. She wore a wig for the premiere of A Real Pain at the 62nd New York Film Festival last October and later revealed her grown-out pixie cut at the 2025 Golden Globes in March.
Bugonia is set for wide release on October 31.
