The interpretations of characters from Spider-Man from the comic books to the big screen are extensively scrutinized by fans. While it’s the protagonist himself whose live-action performances get analyzed the most, his love interests are also subject to a fair amount of attention.
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Emma Stone’s turn as Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man series was met with critical acclaim, and was even a hit with fans. Her success in the role came down to how faithfully she played the character, with her portrayal capturing the aspects of Gwen Stacy that fans like. That said, here are 10 of those aspects that Emma Stone did an awesome job at bringing to the screen.
10 HerFiery Attitude
Although Mary Jane has been noted to be more sassy, Gwen Stacy possessed a brazen style herself. She would be restrained in general, but would have no trouble in laying out some one-liners when the need to so arrived.
Emma Stone’s version was along the same lines, being a ball of attitude whenever she felt she wasn't being treated fairly. She wasn’t like the other girls in school who had a stereotypical teenager mindset, and it was her knack for for showing off more of her emotions and taking less nonsense from others that got Peter interested in her.
9 The Intelligent Moments
Gwen Stacy was noted for being the whole package, as she was just as smart as she was beautiful. Both of these were filled out by Emma Stone, and she might have even exceeded the comic book version’s knack for showcasing her intelligence.
Like the original iteration, the film Gwen Stacy also wasn’t a super genius, instead doling out her knowledge in small bursts. Appropriately, Emma Stone channeled this in her performance by providing the intelligent pieces of information to Spider-Man at crucial moments. Then again, she did nail the science-based scenes just as well, too.
8 Being Forward And Direct
One of the criticisms of the Spider-Man trilogy Mary Jane was that she beat around the bush far too much, something that wasn’t the case for Gwen Stacy. Like her comic book counterpart, this one didn’t shy away from being confrontational, even if she didn't become a superherolike her.
Emma Stone’s interpretation of this was far more direct than the original version, but overall, she was aligned with how Gwen would stare at people right in the face when she had to. Gwen would go up against even the big villains if she wanted, and this can be found in both The Amazing Spider-Man film and comic books.
7 Her Inquisitiveness
The Gwen Stacy in print had the knack of prying into Peter’s whereabouts and happenings, which the latter found endearing due to her penchant for being inquisitive. Likewise, Emma Stone’s version didn’t leave Peter well enough alone, and she never came across as annoying in her pursuit to uncover Peter’s secrets either, no matter which bad guy might be in her way.
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The charm of Gwen was that it wouldn’t feel as if she was intruding upon anyone, instead the idea was that Gwen was naturally in favor of seeking out the truth of the matter. The film incarnation expanded upon this by adding Gwen into Spider-Man’s investigations.
6 Her Dying Stance
This will feel like a bitter point for fans, but there’s no doubt that the similarities between Gwen Stacy’s deaths in both forms of media were remarkably close. The same ways as it went in the comics, her body had clearly been struck by whiplash, which was reflected in how her final stance was.
Emma Stone did a wonderful job in recreating this in live-action, with her back remaining ever so curved, which had the effect of proving that her spine had been whipped by Spider-Man’s webbing catching her in midair.
5 Romantic Tension With Peter
In the earlier storylines Gwen and Peter had, the two would have numerous “will they/won’t they” moments, during which their interactions were heavy with romantic tension that made it impossible to guess what would happen.
Likewise, Emma Stone’s chemistry with Andrew Garfield evoked this similarity, as she put on a layer in her positioning, that would make it seem as if she was ready to jump in his arms any second. In The Amazing Spider-Man, her flirtatious interactions with Peter were such that it was apparent Gwen was waiting for Peter to make a move on her.
4 Her Ability To Inspire
Emma Stone’s final scene as Gwen Stacy was where Peter watched her graduation speech and was motivated to become Spider-Man once more. Even before that, she was the one who encouraged him to be himself rather than conform with the world.
This aspect was derived from the comics, where the mere presence of Gwen served to inspire Peter. Although she wasn’t as directly involved as the film version, the comic book Gwen’s words of support were instrumental in ultimately allowing Peter to both be Spider-Man and to move on from her death.
3 Carrying A Sense Of Independence
One could tell from Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy that she didn’t actually need Peter in her life, and that she would have done very well on her own. The original Gwen wasn’t dependent on Peter either, having fought many battles by herself, which was why it was a shame she died since she still could have offered the world more.
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This independent quality was striking, much as Emma Stone’s performance showed as she was seen carrying on her own studies and pursuits of her career along with being involved with Peter. This allowed her to stand out more as her own character.
2 A Hint Of Vanity
While not outright prideful, Gwen was still aware of her talents and looks. The comic book incarnation carried a touch of vanity when looking to make Peter jealous by dating other men she knew would take to her looks. However, this never went out of hand and Gwen’s vain tendencies were kept mild.
Emma Stone’s version retained this aspect, being relatively boastful about herself even when things were far too dangerous for her. It was this hint of vanity that got her killed as she meddled in an extremely dire situation. And yet, viewers don’t hold it against her since Emma Stone’s soft spoken execution of Gwen’s habits allowed her to be vain in a likable way.
1 Attempts To Keep Lingering Feelings At Bay
Fans noticed how The Amazing Spider-Man 2 had Peter and Gwen’s relationship be on uncertain terms. The scenes had Emma Stone play Gwen as resisting her urge to accept Peter back, with her mannerisms consisting of Gwen both inviting Peter in for embraces but also pushing him back.
She also adopted a tone that made it clear she was tempted to start things up again, which closely resembled the comics. In the comic book story where Peter and Gwen were estranged, the latter would constantly flip flop between being close to Peter and avoiding him. This increased the intrigue behind their pairing, and it was certainly shown in Emma Stone’s performance in the film.
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