Emma Stone

On Woody Allen, Joaquin Phoenix and tap-dancing...

How did Irrational Man come about?

Woody sent me a script and said, ‘There’s a character in this that might be right for you, let me know.’ And I read the script – and it was a very bizarre and complicated and twisted and interesting tale.

What did you make of Jill?

She didn’t want to be pure and sweet; what she would consider boring. She grew up in a pretty well-adjusted family and went into philosophy because she wanted to expand her thinking… but I think she also wants to be darker than she is, and question her own morality. At least for me, that’s what was interesting about her as a character.

Were you intimidated to work with Joaquin?

Mmm-hmm. I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t meet him until the camera test, and then I didn’t act with him or really speak to him before the first day. I think he’s such a live-wire as an actor that I wasn’t sure what the experience was going to be like. But he was incredibly funny and really, really generous. The intimidation just followed me all the way through, though.

Cabaret on Broadway, an Oscar nod

for Birdman – an amazing year, right?

I love acting more right now than I ever have in my life, because of the play, because of all the things that have led up to it. The past year and a half or so has been really incredible. There’s an expansion that’s happened and I’m so excited to act in general. I’m very invigorated by it right now.

You’re attached to Whiplash director Damien Chazelle’s La La Land. What’s it about?

He’s written a completely original musical. His biggest influence is The Umbrellas

Of Cherbourg. There’s ballet and tapdancing – just incredible sequences. It’s going to be… we’ll see!