March 2011
Getting invited to the set of a superhero movie is a dream for any fanboy turned reporter. But when my employers sent me to cover filming on "The Amazing Spider-Man" in March 2011 for their website, the movie itself was only one of the main attractions for me. In fact, I was less interested in Spider-Man himself than in Gwen Stacy -- or rather, the actress behind her.
I had interviewed and talked with Emma Stone twice before, as she did press for "Zombieland" in fall 2009 and for her breakout film "Easy A" just several months ago. Although talking to her again was only part of this assignment, I regarded it as the likely highlight of my visit. Even if her hair was a different color now.
Nevertheless, the redhead turned blonde -- or rather blonde turned redhead turned blonde again -- immediately remembered me and looked pleased when she saw me arrive. Of course, she had certainly been briefed that I was coming, and she might have forgotten who I was until others reminded her -- plus she had to pretend to like seeing me regardless.
Still, the non-professional part of me that was quite taken by Emma in person, and in her movies, chose not to be that cynical.
In any case, I had to talk to other people for the next few days and actually write about the movie -- as much as I could without revealing spoilers. I saved talking one on one with Emma in her trailer for last, while she was still dressed as Gwen in a lab coat, dark blue and white striped shirt and short grey skirt -- with her new blond look in a ponytail. Yet like before, Emma was the ideal subject -- just as she would officially be the ideal new A-list star before long.
I had to ask about her calm before the storm, with "Crazy. Stupid. Love," and "The Help" coming out this summer, and "Spider-Man" following next summer. But Emma knew well about how the full weight of stardom was about to come down on her. Not every young star can handle that too well -- and I'd already covered a few who hadn't. Yet everything Emma said and appeared to be suggested -- and privately made me hope -- that she'd be one of the exceptions and then some.
"I suppose you have time before the hype really comes crashing down," I stated. "There's probably time until the backlash starts too. I'm sure the most you've gotten so far is for your new hair."
Just when I realized my poor choice of words, Emma asked, "You're sure? You really researched that before you came down here?"
"No, no!" I backtracked. "I'm sure my colleagues would, but not me!" I hoped I didn't overcompensate -- but either way, I left myself open to more suspicion.
"So if you didn't research it, how are you so sure?" Emma nitpicked. "I'd ask for your sources, but that'd be stupid. If it's just you, like I think, it'd be pretty pointless too."
"Um....you know I can't reveal my sources. Even Hollywood website journalists can't do that," I covered up.
"I'm pretty sure the First Amendment would survive this one," Emma theorized. Well, at least she seemed like she wasn't actually pissed. She just had that teasing smile and teasing glint in her teasing eyes -- which helped lower my defenses enough to joke about her hair in the first place. If she wasn't mad, then maybe I could get around this without her storming out and calling my editors.
"Okay, I didn't research whether people hate your new blond hair. I'm sure some do, though -- but I'm not one of them! It's nice, but....after seeing you as a red head for so long, it's hard to see you as anything else," I admitted. "I know it has to be blonde for Spider-Man, and that you're a real blonde anyway! But....seeing you as Gwen is the first time I really bought you as a blonde. This is all off the record, of course."
I hoped adding a compliment -- a true one at that -- would get me a bit off the hook. Emma wasn't walking out and ending the interview, although it was already halted in its tracks. I put my tape recorder away regardless of it, then Emma said, "But you still think I look better as a redhead."
"Well, what does my opinion matter? I'm just one middle of the pack blogger," I deflected.
"So that's a long way of saying yes," Emma noted. Then she added, "You are right, though. This isn't the first time I've heard that. I guess that's what you mean by backlash."
"Well, that doesn't really count," I corrected. "Maybe your new hair....takes a while to get used to. But you've got lots of other features that are still --" At that, I made myself shut up. Yet Emma was still quiet and calm on the surface.
"You know, I had a feeling those last few times that you were into me," Emma made my blood freeze. "So if you didn't like my hair anyway, I thought that had to say something," she barely made my blood unfreeze. "But if you still think I'm hot anyway...."
"Of course I --" Somehow I shut myself up again. "Okay....I think this has gotten way off topic. And I have enough for my report anyway," I tried to retreat. "You probably want to rest before your next scene anyway, so I shouldn't bother you anymore."
"Maybe not," Emma admitted, which made me both relieved and a bit disappointed. I chose to focus on relief as I turned toward the trailer door. Then Emma froze me and said, "But they don't need me back for another hour. You can spend two minutes saying what other features you still like about me, and I can still get some rest. I think that'd help us end on a better note."
This was way beyond professional on both our sides, so a professional should have been on his way. Then again, a professional wouldn't have a crush on an interview subject -- or at least one obvious enough for her to notice it. But Emma sounded nonchalant and cool about it, which kind of fit her.
She was cool and collected, mature yet silly, and it was so easy to get lost in talking to her and in looking at her face.....regardless of hair color. And she wanted me to explain the other things I found sexy about her. That fact overwhelmed the rest as I sat back down.
"Off the record, right?" I tried to joke. She laughed and nodded, so if I sounded too nervous, it appeared she didn't mind. "Well, I'm sure this is all nothing you haven't heard before."
"Not in this context, so go on," Emma encouraged.
"Okay.....well, your eyes are stunning, first and foremost. Any hair color would bring those out -- except maybe green, ironically," I added. Emma chuckled again as her eyes gave a kind of a seductive glance -- perhaps to be ironic herself. Nevertheless, I was trying not to add that they were amazing "fuck me" eyes as well, but that glance wasn't helping me.