During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Emma Stone has discussed her nude scene in Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite, the first of her career, with the Oscar-winning actress revealing that it was not originally in the script for the film, but was something she suggested herself during production.
“I had the sheet up around me,” explains Stone. “And as we were shooting it and we did a few takes, I said, Can I please just be (naked)? I think it’s going to give Sarah something to look at when she sees that I’m not just under the sheet covered up. Olivia [Colman] was like, ‘No, don’t do it!’ Yorgos was like, ‘Are you sure that’s what you want to do?’ And I was like, ‘Absolutely’. I chose to do it. I was like, this makes sense to me. It’s an absolute [Stone flips the bird] to Sarah.”
Stone also went on to reveal that she did have some discomfort on set, albeit from the film’s frequent use of the word ‘cunt’ rather than her topless scene: “I’ve been around Brits long enough the shock has worn off, but hearing the word cunt a bunch, I was like, oh my God. It’s the most offensive word.”
SEE ALSO: Read our ★★★★ review of The Favourite
Early 18th century. England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen’s companion. Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fulfil her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way.
Originally published October 9, 2018. Updated July 19, 2024.
