Emma Stone Exposes Sexist Advice in Stirring Palm Springs International Film Awards Speech

The actress offered inspiring words regarding the role of women in the film industry.

Emma Stone.Jerod Harris/Getty Images

With her acceptance of the Desert Palm Achievement Award for an actress at the 2024 Palm Springs International Film Awards on Jan. 4, actress Emma Stone is inspiring in more ways than one. The award itself, which she was given for her role in the 2023 fantasy film, Poor Things, is hugely impressive—and an inspiration to all those pursuing their passions with her level of heart. She was one among stars like Cillian Murphy and Greta Gerwig to earn an honor at the annual ceremony.

But, perhaps more importantly, Stone inspired in the words she offered in her acceptance speech. According to People, the 35-year-old spoke to her experience as a young actress in the industry, and the discouraging—and sexist—remarks she heard early on in her career.

“When I first moved to L.A., I went to one of those general meetings that they sometimes send you to, and an executive told me that for male actors, it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” she said in her speech. “And in his eyes, for women, it was a sprint, not a marathon. And that was 20 years ago.”

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In essence, Stone was discouraged from imagining—or pursuing—a lengthy career in the industry by an exec who considered it impossible. Thankfully, she didn’t listen, and neither did her inspirations and mentors.

“I realize that advice is total garbage because the majority of the women that I look up to in this industry, many of whom are in this room, have proven that as time goes on, life and work only get more interesting and more fulfilling," she remarked.

Stone, who has been in the film and television realm for more than 20 years, has certainly defied the problematic advice she was once given. We have no doubt she will continue to do so.

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