California (US), February 23: Jesse Eisenberg referred to actress Emma Stone as his “fairy godmother” while accepting the Best Screenplay award at the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Eisenberg won the award for his film The Real Pain, which he both starred in and wrote, alongside Kieran Culkin. Emma Stone, who also produced the film, played a significant role in encouraging Eisenberg to pursue writing the screenplay.
During his acceptance speech, which took place in Santa Monica, California, on Saturday, Eisenberg expressed his gratitude to Emma Stone for her support throughout the creative process. He fondly recalled their first meeting in 2009 while working together on Zombieland, and how Stone had consistently encouraged him to write, even keeping track of his work over the years.
“I met Emma when we were in Zombieland together in 2009 and since then — I write little magazine articles and little things on McSweeney’s, and she’s the only person, I’m including my mom here, who would take little screenshots of it over the last 15 years and send me things like, ‘This is such a funny line!'” Eisenberg shared while accepting the award, with Emma Stone sitting in the audience.
He went on to describe Stone as “the most famous person I know” but also the most dedicated in supporting his writing. “I think about her not as my producer, but like a fairy godmother, that I am riding the coattails of her goodwill,” he said. Eisenberg praised her for using her success in mainstream movies to help produce independent art films, such as The Real Pain, Fantasma, Problemista, and I Saw The TV Glow, all of which were nominated at the Spirit Awards.
Stone, alongside Eisenberg, Jennifer Semler, Ali Herting, Dave McCary, and Ewa Puszczynska, produced The Real Pain. The film was also nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for Kieran Culkin, who plays Eisenberg’s cousin in the movie.
In addition to his win at the Spirit Awards, Eisenberg is nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the upcoming 97th Academy Awards, further solidifying his place in the industry.