“Poor Things” brings Emma Stone her 2nd Best Actress trophy in a closely watched race against Lily Gladstone.

Los Angeles (AP) – Emma Stone, visibly surprised, claimed her second Best Actress Oscar for “Poor Things.“

In a stunning upset at Sunday night’s Oscars, Emma Stone emerged victorious in the tightly contested Best Actress race for her role in “Poor Things.” Lily Gladstone of “Killers of the Flower Moon,” who would have been the first Native American to win a competitive Oscar, fell short in a race pundits deemed too close to call.

Emma Stone surprise was evident when last year’s winner, Michelle Yeoh, announced her name. She embraced her husband, Dave McCary, before showering co-star Mark Ruffalo and director Yorgos Lanthimos with hugs. “Blackout might be an understatement,” she confessed backstage. “The shock is definitely still there. Feels like I’m on a carousel that hasn’t stopped yet.”

A warm gesture saw Stone hugging each of the five previous Best Actress winners who presented the nominees. The award recognized her powerful performance as Bella Baxter in “Poor Things.” The film portrays Bella, a childlike woman in Victorian London, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery after receiving a brain transplant. The dark humor of the story unfolds against a visually striking steampunk backdrop.

Taking the stage, Stone downplayed the individual honor. “This isn’t about me,” she declared. “It’s about a team that coalesced to create something truly remarkable, something that transcends the contributions of any single person. That’s the magic of filmmaking. I’m incredibly humbled to share this with every single person on camera and off. Yorgos, you gave me the opportunity of a lifetime with Bella Baxter, and I’ll be forever grateful.”

Stone’s surprise extended beyond the award. Arriving onstage, she pointed out a wardrobe malfunction – a broken dress – to the audience.Thankfully, backstage repairs had already been made.

“Thankfully, they sewed me back together!” she exclaimed. Taking some of the blame with a laugh, Stone said, “Honestly, I think it ripped during ‘I’m Just Ken.'” She referenced Ryan Gosling’s electrifying performance of the original song, admitting, “I was so blown away by Ryan, that whole number just took my breath away. Stone’s win cemented her place in Oscar history.

She became the 13th woman to claim two Best Actress trophies. Her first win came in 2017 for the critically acclaimed musical “La La Land.” Previously, she received nominations for Best Supporting Actress in both 2015 and 2019.

Emma Stone night wasn’t a clean sweep. Though victorious for Best Actress, “Poor Things”

She itself fell short in the Best Picture category, losing out to “Oppenheimer.” This nomination marked Stone as only the second woman to compete for both Best Actress and Best Picture for the same film, following Frances McDormand’s historic double win with “Nomadland” in 2021.

The road to Oscar glory for Stone and Gladstone was a back-and-forth affair. Stone emerged victorious at the BAFTAs and Golden Globes, while Gladstone claimed wins at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and a separate Golden Globe category.

 Emma Stone career skyrocketed in 2010 with her lead role in the teen comedy

“Easy A.” Since then, the 35-year-old Arizona native has amassed an impressive filmography, including major roles in “The Help,” the “Amazing Spider-Man” franchise, “Birdman,” “Battle of the Sexes,” and “The Favourite.” The other talented actresses vying for Best Actress this year were Annette Bening (“Nyad”), Sandra Hüller (“Anatomy of a Fall”), and Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”).