Emma Stone approached her audition for Crazy, Stupid, Love with an air of casual confidence that truly set her apart.
According to directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, known for Bugonia, it was Stone’s unfazed response to Ryan Gosling during her tryout that made her the obvious choice for his on-screen love interest.
“Emma walked in, and as Ryan delivered a line, he stumbled over it. He was off-camera reading with her,” Ficarra recalled in a People interview on July 29. “Without missing a beat, Emma quipped, ‘Wow, you’re really nailing it.’ She playfully teased him, and instantly, we knew she was perfect.”
Stone, then in her early twenties, immediately formed a natural connection with the Notebook star, prompting the directing duo—also known for Whiskey Tango Foxtrot—to feel an urgent desire to include her in the film.
“We spent an entire day with numerous talented actresses reading with Ryan,” Ficarra confessed. “Many were impressive, but once Ryan arrived, they often faltered a bit, despite his down-to-earth demeanor as an Oscar-nominated actor.”