Actress Emma Stone is in Athens for the premier of Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest short, “Bleat,” shot on the Cycladic island of Tinos in February 2020, just before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
She spent Wednesday evening in the company of Lanthimos at a basketball game between Piraeus team Olympiacos and AS Monaco at the “Peace and Friendship” Stadium, cheering for the home team, which won the match 94-88, in an Olympiacos face mask.
Fans of the team were excited to see the actress, and took to twitter with comments like: “Go to sleep, he’s not gonna call. He’s searching for Emma Stone in Plaka,” and “How do I tell this lady who knows Lanthimos’ aunt that I would like to be introduced to Emma Stone?”
Newest member of Olympiacos Ultras: Emma Stonepic.twitter.com/eXo0E3wmXP
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) May 4, 2022
The first screening of “Bleat,” which stars Oscar winner Stone along with French actor Damien Bonnard, took place on Thursday at the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the National Greek Opera, accompanied by a live orchestra. It’s the second installment in a series of short film projects titled “The Artist on the Composer,” organized by the Greek National Opera and non-profit organization NEON, aiming to connect pioneering filmmakers with live orchestral music. The music makes up the complete soundscape for the film, which is silent and shot in black and white.
© AP
Speaking at a press conference after the screening, Stone said that acting in the film was “a professional challenge and a relief,” and added that: “What is the point continuing to give in this kind of ‒ no offence ‒ stupid job of acting if you’re not gonna keep pushing and being challenged?” AP reported.
Stone has previously worked with Lanthimos in the critically acclaimed “The Favourite,” earning a nomination for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role” at the Academy Awards for her role as the Queen’s courtier Abigail Masham. In “Bleat,” she plays a young widow who, through her grief, brings her husband back to life only to take his place in the grave.
The film will be screened to the public for three days this week at the national opera, on the Athens Riviera.
