Emma Stone: Biography, Awards, Family, and Mental Health

There’s a reason Emma Stone keeps winning over audiences—and not just at the Oscars. From a childhood marked by panic attacks to becoming one of the most decorated actors of her generation, her story is less about luck and more about showing up, again and again.

Full name: Emily Jean “Emma” Stone · Born: November 6, 1988 · Place of birth: Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. · Occupation: Actress, film producer · Academy Awards: 2 · Spouse: Dave McCary (m. 2020)

Six key facts, one snapshot: the public data points that define Emma Stone’s biography.

What is Emma Stone’s real name?

Birth name and meaning

Emma Stone’s legal name at birth was Emily Jean Stone, according to Biography.com. She adopted “Emma” as a stage name early in her career—a choice that stuck so completely that many fans are surprised to learn she wasn’t born with it.

Early life in Scottsdale

Born on November 6, 1988, in Scottsdale, Arizona, Stone grew up in a middle-class household. Her father, Jeffrey Charles Stone, worked as a general contractor, and her mother, Krista Jean Stone (née Yeager), was a homemaker and later a photography studio manager, per Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Upbringing and education

Stone attended Sequoya Elementary School and later Cocopah Middle School. She was homeschooled for a year after struggling with anxiety, then attended Xavier College Preparatory, a Catholic school, before dropping out at age 15 to pursue acting. Her parents supported the move, and she relocated to Los Angeles with her mother in 2005.

The pattern: a name change that became a professional identity.

What is Emma Stone diagnosed with?

Childhood anxiety and panic attacks

Stone has spoken publicly about experiencing severe anxiety and panic disorder as a child. In a Child Mind Institute feature, she described having her first panic attack at age 7, during which she felt the house was on fire. The attacks became so frequent that she developed a coping mechanism: asking her parents to list the steps of the day in advance to reduce uncertainty.

Therapy and coping techniques

She underwent therapy and credits acting as a crucial outlet. “I was a very anxious kid,” she told Rolling Stone (the magazine). “I used acting to feel in control of my emotions.” Stone also practiced visualization and cognitive behavioral techniques, which she still uses today.

Public advocacy and stigma

Stone has become an advocate for mental health awareness, frequently speaking about the importance of normalizing conversations around anxiety. She has partnered with the Child Mind Institute to promote resources for children and families.

The implication: anxiety can be a catalyst for creativity.

Did Emma Stone have a baby?

Daughter’s name and birth date

Yes, Emma Stone and her husband Dave McCary have one daughter, born in March 2021. Biography.com reports that the child’s name is Louise Jean. The couple has not publicly confirmed the name, but multiple sources have reported it.

Parenthood with Dave McCary

Stone and McCary, a writer and director best known for his work on Saturday Night Live, married in 2020. They keep their family life extremely private, rarely sharing photos or details about their daughter. Stone told Vogue that becoming a mother changed her perspective on work: “I feel more grounded. The stakes feel lower, somehow.”

Privacy around family life

This deliberate privacy reflects a broader pattern. Stone has said she wants her daughter to have a normal childhood, away from the Hollywood spotlight. Neither she nor McCary have posted about their child on social media.

Who is Emma Stone married to now?

Dave McCary background

Dave McCary is a writer, director, and producer who worked on Saturday Night Live from 2013 to 2019. He also co-founded the comedy collective Good Neighbor alongside Kyle Mooney and Beck Bennett. E! News describes him as a “low-key presence” compared to Stone’s Hollywood fame.

Wedding in 2020

Stone and McCary announced their engagement in December 2019. They married in a small, private ceremony in 2020. Wikipedia notes that the wedding was held at an undisclosed location, with only close friends and family in attendance.

Relationship history

The couple met in December 2016 when Stone was a guest host on Saturday Night Live. McCary directed the episode. They began dating in 2017 but kept the relationship under wraps for months. Biography.com reports that they were first spotted publicly together in mid-2017, and their relationship was confirmed by People in October 2017.

The pattern: Stone chooses partners outside the Hollywood spotlight.

What awards has Emma Stone won?

Academy Award wins for La La Land and Poor Things

Stone has won two Academy Awards for Best Actress. The first came for La La Land at the 89th Academy Awards in 2017, as confirmed by the SAG Foundation. The second was for Poor Things at the 96th Academy Awards in 2024, per Encyclopaedia Britannica. She is one of the few actors to win two Best Actress Oscars before age 40.

BAFTA and Golden Globe wins

In addition to her Oscars, Stone has won two BAFTA Awards—Best Actress in a Leading Role for La La Land (2017) and again for Poor Things (2024)—and two Golden Globe Awards (Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for La La Land and Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Poor Things).

Other notable nominations

Stone has received five Academy Award nominations in total, according to Biography.com. Her other nominations were for Best Supporting Actress in Birdman (2014) and The Favourite (2018), and Best Actress for La La Land and Poor Things. She also won a Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for La La Land, per All American Speakers.

The catch: consistent success requires picking projects that challenge her range.

Clarity section

Quotes

“I was a very anxious kid. I used acting to feel in control of my emotions.”

Emma Stone, interview with Rolling Stone

“I feel more grounded. The stakes feel lower, somehow.”

Emma Stone, interview with Vogue on motherhood

“We were together for a long time and we have a lot of respect for each other.”

Andrew Garfield, interview with Variety on his relationship with Emma Stone

Summary

Emma Stone transformed a childhood marked by panic attacks into a career that has earned her two Oscars, a stable marriage, and a quietly growing family. For fans and aspiring actors alike, the implication is clear: vulnerability, when channeled through craft, can become a superpower. The trade-off—constant public scrutiny of her private life—is one she has managed with remarkable discipline, keeping her daughter’s name out of headlines and her own mental health journey as a source of strength rather than spectacle.

Emma Stone has credited her early struggles with anxiety for grounding her performances, and her openness about anxiety has become a defining aspect of her public persona.

Frequently asked questions