Pictures of Emma Stone on the July Cover of Elle Magazine

Emma Stone wore a bright and breezy feathered dress during her beachside cover shoot for July's Elle magazine — check out all the amazing pictures and full article on Elle.com. Emma is still rocking her blond hair in the spread, which she dyed for her role as Gwen Stacey in the upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man, but has gone back to red since the pictures were taken. It's not the only transformation that Emma, who picked up a best female performance popcorn statuette for her Easy A role at last weekend's MTV Movie Awards, has undergone this year. She opened up to the glossy about her seemingly overnight change from relative unknown to superstar and how she's handling the transition. Emma wasn't afraid to reflect on what she's learned about life during her whirlwind year, but her signature sense of humor was also on full display during the interview. Here are highlights:

• On why her fame feels surreal: “It’s so funny how different life could have been. I went to so many auditions. I remember my audition for Heroes. I went in right after Hayden Panettiere. Now here we are in this rented house. It feels like it just happened.”
• On how she's enjoying her success: “These past two years, I’ve stopped having to remind myself to be present, which has been the greatest gift. Because I know it’s so fleeting. I’ll kick my ass later on if I don’t enjoy it right now. But it does make you realize that so much of the joy of it is the journey. The struggle is such a lovely part of it.”
• On feeling comfortable in her own skin: “I like to look like a person. It drives me crazy when you see women in movies playing teachers, and they have biceps. It totally takes me out of the movie. I start thinking, 'Wow, that actress playing this part really looks great!'”
• On why she won't talk about her former boyfriend, Kieran Culkin: “You have to keep some things sacred."

Photos courtesy Elle