Here’s What Emma Stone Had To Say About Her Viral Reaction To Winning The Best Actress Oscar After People Speculated That She Was “Upset” To Have Beaten Out Lily Gladstone

“I think I blacked out...I was very shocked,” said Emma, whose face visibly dropped as soon as it was announced that she’d won the Best Actress Oscar.

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Last night, Emma Stone took home her second Academy Award at the 2024 Oscars!

Emma in a beaded dress holding an Oscar statuette and smiling

Emma, 35, won the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her incredible performance in Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things. In the film, she portrays Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life with the brain of an infant via a transplant and winds up embarking on a moving journey of self-discovery.

Emma as Bella with a surprised expression

Emma previously won the Oscar for Best Actress in 2017 for her work in La La Land.

Poor Things received a total of 11 Oscar nominations this year and won four of those: for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Also nominated in Best Actress category were Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall), Carey Mulligan (Maestro), Annette Bening (Nyad), and Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon).

Carey Mulligan in a black sleeveless outfit with diamond earrings, glancing over her shoulder
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For some quick context, Lily, who uses she/they pronouns, made history with their Oscar nomination as the first Native American person — and fourth Indigenous person — to be nominated for an Academy Award. Her Siksikaitsitapi and Nimiipuu heritage massively influenced the Martin Scorsese film, with her costar and close friend Leonardo DiCaprio repeatedly praising just how vital she was in the shaping of the script.

A couple of months ago, at the Screen Actors Guild awards, Lily won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role — beating out Emma, who was nominated in the same category for her work in Poor Things.

Lily in a pleated red gown holding a SAG award, smiling, with prominent green earrings

Emma appeared super happy for her friend Lily when it was announced that she’d won the SAG Award, with her ecstatic reaction attracting heaps of attention.

@THR / Netflix / Via Twitter: @THR

And several people are now convinced that Emma was rooting for Lily to take home the Oscar too, with the actor’s unexpected reaction to winning going viral online again.

Emma in a strapless gown with floral necklace, posing with hand on neck

As soon as Emma’s name was read aloud as the winner, she was seen looking visibly overwhelmed in her seat as her face “dropped.”

Emma Stone seated at the Oscars, reacting with a surprised expression

After a few moments, Emma eventually made her way onto the stage to accept the award. And during her speech, she was sure to honor Lily — as well as the other nominees in the Best Actress category.

Emma standing onstage holding an award at a microphone, teary-eyed, wearing a strapless dress

“This is really overwhelming,” she stated onstage through heavy breaths. “The women on the stage — you are all incredible,” she said of the past Best Actress winners who had presented the nominees.

Emma with past winners, including Jennifer Lawrence and Michelle Yeoh, holding a trophy, all smiling and interacting joyfully

Emma continued, “And the women in this category...Sandra, Annette, Carey, Lily, I share this with you. I’m in awe of you.”

Emma in an evening dress holding an Oscar trophy, expressing joy

In the crowd, Lily — who had immediately applauded Emma after her win was announced — appeared super touched by her mention of the other nominees in her acceptance speech.

Lily emotional in the audience, with her hand on her face
Lily at the Oscars, emotional, in the audience, wearing an elegant dress and drop earrings

Emma’s shocked reaction to winning the Oscar left several internet users speculating that she’d been expecting Lily to take home the award, and it wound up sparking a load of discourse online.

Emma standing onstage holding an award at the Oscars and looking very emotional