When you think of Emma Stone today, you see an Oscar-winning actress known for her intelligence, wit, and charm. But rewind to 2009, and there was a fresh-faced young star auditioning for the role of Wichita in Zombieland—a role that would go on to launch her into the stratosphere of stardom. But what stood out from that audition wasn’t just her acting chops. It was her ability to own the room in a way that not only impressed but humbled one of her co-stars—Jesse Eisenberg.
During a recent interview, Eisenberg took a stroll down memory lane to revisit his first encounter with Stone. He was already cast in the movie when he was asked to audition actresses for the role of Wichita, but none of the other actresses quite did it for him. But then the Poor Things star, 35, walked in.
Emma Stone’s Comedic Genius: How She Left Jesse Eisenberg ‘Feeling Small’
They say that the first impression is often the lasting one. And for Jesse Eisenberg, his first encounter with Emma Stone left him just blown away—an experience he’s never forgotten. Their professional relationship began in 2009 when Stone auditioned for the role of Wichita in Ruben Fleischer’s Zombieland.
What transpired in that audition room, however, was something far more memorable than just a simple reading for a character. At the time, Eisenberg had already secured his role in the film, and like many other actors, he was tasked with auditioning actresses for the role of Wichita.
He recently reminisced the experience fondly, describing the other actresses as professional and polite—“trying to get into the movie”, as he put it (via SiriusXM’s The Spotlight with Jessica Shaw). But then came Stone, now a two-time Oscar-winning actress, whose approach was anything but conventional.
Instead of the typical nervous pleasantries, Stone walked in and quickly took the reins, turning the audition into a comedic showdown. Her Zombieland co-star recalled:
She just started making fun of me in the scene, like just assaulting me with insults in the scene. It was so funny. They were so quick and so funny and cutting. And she left the room and I just felt so, so small.
As the La La Land actress made her way through Hollywood, Eisenberg couldn’t help but acknowledge the brilliance in Stone. “We were like, ‘Oh my God. That person is a genius,’” he said, clearly still in awe of her talent. The former added:
And maybe she was 19 even at that time of the audition. I mean, she’s a truly spectacularly, unusually brilliant person.
And he was right. That raw energy and quick wit, which had stood out during the Zombieland audition, soon became one of the defining qualities of her career.
Emma Stone & Jesse Eisenberg: A Hollywood Partnership That Continues to Thrive
Since Zombieland, Emma Stone and Jesse Eisenberg have collaborated on multiple projects, further solidifying their bond. In 2022, Stone and her husband, Dave McCary co-produced Eisenberg’s directorial debut, When You Finish Saving the World, starring Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard. The collaboration came as no surprise to Stone, who had long admired Eisenberg as an actor.
The Amazing Spider-Man actress said (via IndieWire):
I knew that from acting with him, so it just felt like a no-brainer that we’d attempt to work on something with him.
Their latest collaboration came in 2024 with A Real Pain, a film written, directed, and starring Eisenberg. Stone, once again, stepped in as a co-producer, offering her expert insight and guidance. Eisenberg praised her involvement, noting (via PEOPLE):
She read the script and gave me the best note I got on my script of a thing that I could rewrite.
It’s clear that in a career that spans over a decade, Stone has carved out her niche among Hollywood’s elite. And with time, she has earned her place among the most respected figures in Hollywood.
Whether she’s cracking jokes on screen, or producing behind the scenes, Emma Stone’s multifaceted brilliance continues to shine. And, as Eisenberg will tell you, it’s no surprise at all that she’s an Oscar-winning actress—she’s always had the talent and the drive to make it to the top.
Zombieland is streaming on Netflix.
