Bugonia is a 2025 film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. It’s a dark, surreal sci-fi satire. Emma Stone plays Michelle Fuller
What is Bugonia
Bugonia is a 2025 film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. It’s a dark, surreal sci-fi satire. Emma Stone plays Michelle Fuller, a pharmaceutical company CEO who gets kidnapped by conspiracy theorists who believe she’s an alien. As part of the story, her captors shave her head — a transformation filmed in real time, with her actual hair being cut on camera.
Shaving Her Head for the Role
Emma Stone knew well in advance that she would have to shave her head for the movie. But when the day finally came, with the cameras set up and everyone waiting, she admitted she got cold feet and started to panic.
Finding Strength
What helped her push through was remembering her mother’s past battle with breast cancer, when she lost her own hair during chemotherapy. That perspective grounded her and gave her courage to go through with the scene.
How She Felt Afterwards
Once it was done, Stone described the experience as liberating. She said there’s no better feeling than being bald, and even something as simple as taking a shower felt incredible afterwards. Over time, as her hair grew back, she embraced a pixie cut before returning to longer styles.
Support and Reactions
Friends initially worried about how she might look with a shaved head, but later praised her for pulling it off beautifully. During the growing-out phase, she alternated between wigs, hats, and her natural regrowth until she felt comfortable showing off the shorter style.