Hollywood transformations are nothing new, but Emma Stone’s shocking confession about the painful toll of her costumes in The Favourite has left fans stunned.
Earlier this month, the Oscar-winning actress sat down with Vogue to reflect on some of her most memorable fashion moments, including the elaborate 18th-century looks she wore while playing Abigail Hill in Yorgos Lanthimos’s award-winning 2018 period drama.
But behind the dazzling costumes was a dark truth: Emma says the “extremely tight” corsets left her body physically altered—and not just temporarily.
“It was my first time ever really wearing a corset,” Emma revealed. “I can confirm, it does shift your organs after a while. My body shape was different for, I would say, about a month after The Favourite. Because it was extremely tight, it pulls you in.”
Organs Literally Shifted
The actress went on to explain how unnatural and intense the experience was:
“I’ve got a very big ribcage, so it’s an intense thing to maneuver. My body was definitely not built for a corset.”
And while most people would expect the damage to stop once the costume came off, Emma said the aftereffects lingered. Her organs shifted, her body changed shape, and the experience left her with an odd “skill” she didn’t have before:
“Now, I can hold my breath for a really long time underwater, and I think that’s because of the corset.”
A History of Struggle
This isn’t the first time Emma has spoken about the brutal demands of the wardrobe on The Favourite. Back in 2018, during the film’s promotion, she admitted she “couldn’t breathe” for the first month of filming. To cope, she used menthol to trick her brain into feeling like she could breathe:
“I would smell menthol, and it would make me think I was in a wide-open space and could breathe for a moment in time.”
By the end of that first month, she said, her organs had literally shifted. “It was gross,” she added at the time. “And if you don’t have to, don’t do it!”
Beauty at a Dangerous Price
The shocking revelation has reignited conversations about the dangerous lengths actors often go to for authenticity in period films. Corsets, while historically accurate, are notorious for being uncomfortable—even harmful—when worn for extended periods.
Emma’s testimony makes it clear: the physical cost of “looking the part” can leave lasting scars.
After Emma’s new confession went public, fans expressed both sympathy and outrage on social media. Many praised her for her honesty while others questioned why modern productions still rely on such painful practices when safer, alternative costume methods exist.
One fan wrote: “If Emma Stone’s organs literally shifted for this role, maybe it’s time Hollywood stops glorifying torture for accuracy.”
Another added: “This makes me respect her commitment even more, but also makes me so sad. Nobody should suffer for fashion.”