When you think of Emma Stone, you probably picture that iconic red hair and the husky voice that’s won her two Oscars. But honestly, the Emma Stone before and after narrative is way more interesting than just a trip to the hair salon. Most people assume she’s a natural redhead who walked onto the set of Superbad and never looked back.
The reality? It’s a bit messier. From a PowerPoint presentation that changed her life to a childhood habit that literally reshaped her face, Stone’s journey is a lesson in how Hollywood actually works.
That Voice and Those Teeth: It Wasn't Always Glamorous
Let’s talk about the voice first. It’s her signature now, right? That low, raspy tone. Well, it didn't come from years of smoking or fancy vocal coaching. It came from being a baby with colic. She screamed so much as an infant that she developed nodules on her vocal cords. Basically, she’s had those "husky" pipes since she was a toddler.
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Then there’s the smile. If you look at early photos of her, things look a little different. Stone has been remarkably open about her dental history. She actually sucked her thumb until she was 11 years old. Eleven!
"The roof of my mouth is so high-pitched that I had this huge overbite," Stone told W Magazine.
She ended up wearing a "tongue crib"—which she calls a "gate"—starting in second grade. She even admitted to sneaking her thumb under the appliance anyway. This led to seven years of braces. Seven. When you see her perfect smile today, you’re seeing the result of nearly a decade of orthodontic warfare.
The Hair Myth: Brunette to Red (and Why it Stuck)
Here’s the thing most people get wrong: Emma Stone is a natural blonde.
When she first moved to LA at 15—after famously convincing her parents with a PowerPoint presentation set to Madonna’s "Hollywood"—she couldn't get a job. Her agent at the time kept sending her out for "cheerleader" roles because of the blonde hair. She wasn't getting anywhere.
In a fit of "I need to do something different," she dyed her hair dark brown. She booked her first role a week later.
But the real Emma Stone before and after moment happened in 2007. Judd Apatow, the producer of Superbad, asked her to dye her hair red for the camera test. It wasn't some deep character choice; they just thought it looked good. It became her "calling card." Since then, she’s bounced between blonde (for The Amazing Spider-Man), dark brunette (for The Favourite), and her signature copper.
The Face Transformation: Natural Aging or Something Else?
Lately, the internet has been spiraling over "New Emma Stone."
At the 2025 Golden Globes, fans noticed she looked... refreshed. Taut. Her eyes seemed a bit more almond-shaped, and those deep nasolabial folds (the smile lines we all have) seemed to have pulled a disappearing act.
Some experts, like plastic surgeon Dr. Babak Dadvand, have speculated about a brow lift or blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). Others point to the fact that she’s now 37 and has clearly traded the heavy, kohl-rimmed eyeliner of her Easy A days for a more sophisticated, "clean girl" aesthetic.
Honestly, it's probably a mix of both. She’s a Louis Vuitton ambassador now. She’s using high-end skincare like iS Clinical (her makeup artist Rachel Goodwin is a fan of their Copper Firming Mist). When you move from "relatable teen" to "prestige producer," your look is going to evolve.
From Comedy Queen to Yorgos Lanthimos Muse
The career "before and after" is the most dramatic part.
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- The "Before": The girl who excelled at "distrust and snark." Think Easy A, Zombieland, and Crazy, Stupid, Love. She was the smart-talking girl-next-door.
- The "After": The woman who is willing to be absolutely bizarre.
Her partnership with director Yorgos Lanthimos changed everything. In Poor Things, she played Bella Baxter, a woman with a child’s brain. It was weird. It was graphic. It was nothing like the Emma Stone who danced with Ryan Gosling.
She’s no longer just an actress; she’s a power player. She co-founded Fruit Tree, her own production company. She’s producing indie hits like A Real Pain. She isn't waiting for the phone to ring; she’s the one making the calls.
What You Can Learn From the Emma Stone Evolution
Stone’s transformation isn't just about money or surgeons. It’s about "the pivot."
- Change the narrative. If you’re being pigeonholed (like she was as a blonde), change the look. She dyed her hair and the roles followed.
- Lean into the "flaw." That raspy voice was a medical byproduct of colic. She turned it into her most recognizable asset.
- Invest in the long game. She didn't stay the "funny girl." She took risks with weird, un-glamorous roles that eventually led to her second Oscar.
If you’re looking to refresh your own "brand," start by identifying your signature trait—the thing people always notice—and figure out how to dial it up. You don't need a PowerPoint presentation for your parents, but a little strategic reinvention goes a long way.
Check her recent filmography on IMDb to see how her role choices have shifted from mainstream to indie.