In all seriousness, “I was very happy she was there and she was also nominated tonight, which was wonderful,” Stone said

Emma Stone attends the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards; Taylor Swift at 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards. PHOTO:

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Emma Stone and Taylor Swift’s friendship is a real one!

On Sunday night after her win for best film actress in a comedy or musical at the 2024 Golden Globes, Stone, 35, was asked about how the pop superstar reacted upon hearing her friend’s name called — namely, how Swift applauded and cheered loudly and enthusiastically.

“What an a–hole,” the Poor Things star joked. “I’ve known her for almost 20 years. I was very happy she was there and she was also nominated tonight, which was wonderful. And yes, what an a–hole.”

Stone took home the prize for her performance as Bella Baxter in Poor Things, while longtime pal Swift, 34, was nominated in the category of cinematic and box office achievement, for her Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Taylor Swift and Emma Stone attend the ‘Poor Things’ premiere on Dec 6, 2023 in New York City.

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In director Yorgos Lanthimos and writer Tony McNamara’s follow-up to their Oscar-winning film The Favourite, Stone plays Bella Baxter, a woman given a clean slate via an experimental procedure from a mad scientist of sorts, Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Reborn, Bella gradually discovers the wonders — and dangers — of the world. Her personal 𝑠e𝑥ual awakening is among those discoveries.

Stone is both a producer and the star of Poor Things — and of the trippy TV series The Curse. For both in the same year, she earned her seventh and eighth acting nods at the Globes.

Asked in the press room about the life experiences she tapped into to play Bella, Stone said, “I think it was removing life experiences more than tapping into life experiences.”

“She was a character unlike anything I’d ever played or read or seen before,” the actress explained, in part. “It was about unlearning things more than tapping into things from my past, which was really beautiful and very freeing.”

Also up for best film actress in a comedy or musical on Sunday night were Fantasia Barrino for The Color Purple, Jennifer Lawrence for No Hard Feelings, Natalie Portman for May December, Alma Pöysti for Fallen Leaves and Margot Robbie for Barbie.

Emma Stone at the 2024 Golden Globes in Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2024.

CBS

2024 Golden Globe Awards: See the Full List of Winners

After making her way to the stage, Stone began her acceptance speech by gushing over her husband, Dave McCary. The pair have been married since 2020, and share a 2-year-old daughter.

“This is amazing, thank you. Dave, I have to start with you really quickly,” she said. “I love you very much. Thank you for everything!”

Stone then thanked her Poor Things castmates Mark Ruffalo, Ramy Youssef and Dafoe, 68, for making “every day an absolute joy” on the film’s set, as well as the “incredible” crew that helped bring the project to life.

“Tony, this is our third time working together. Tony, our writer,” she continued. “I love getting to say this dialogue, and I love getting to horrify you with my Australian accent. You’re the best Tony.”

Of director Lanthimos, 50, Stone said, “Yorgos, I don’t know what I could say to you that I haven’t said to you already. But I will forever be grateful that we met. Forever. And playing Bella was unbelievable.”

See PEOPLE’s full coverage of the 81st annual Golden Globes as they were broadcast live from The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on CBS and Paramount+.