'I remember feeling very insignificant': Emma Stone wows at La La Land premiere... as she reveals film depicts her worst audition experiences

Published: 06:48 GMT, 16 November 2016 | Updated: 05:02 GMT, 17 November 2016

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Clearly, she's not a struggling actress anymore.

But she plays one in her latest film La La Land — and some of her character's tribulations are based on real life.

The 28-year-old arrived at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Tuesday night for AFI Fest 2016, and the premiere of the eagerly anticipated musical.

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La La Land LA: Emma Stone arrived at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Tuesday night for AFI Fest 2016, and the premiere of the eagerly anticipated musical La La Land

The film - which re-unites Stone and Ryan Gosling for the third time - sees her play and aspiring actress and him a struggling jazz musician, who fall in love but risk falling back out again as they become successful.

Earlier in the day, the star revealed to Variety that many of the painful auditions seen in the film are taken straight from her and co-star Ryan Gosling's experiences.

She told the mag there were times casting directors would yell at her; but it was even worse when they said nothing at all.

'People would look up at me and look back at their paper and not look at me again,' she recalled.

Third time lucky: The film - which re-unites Stone and Ryan Gosling for the third time - sees her play and aspiring actress and him a struggling jazz musician, who fall in love but risk falling back out again as they become successful

True story: Earlier in the day, the star revealed to Variety that many of the painful auditions seen in the film are taken straight from her and co-star Ryan Gosling's experiences

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'I remember feeling very insignificant. I would almost rather you yell at me.'

Gosling's worst ever audition experience - in which he worked up tears during an emotional scene, only for the casting director to take a phonecall - made it into the script.

'It's wonderfully realized by Emma,' Gosling praised. 'It was actually wonderfully cathartic to see up there.'

Emma, who also played opposite Ryan in 2011's Crazy Stupid Love and 2013's Gangster Squad, insisted she did not initially realise they would have such a fruitful working relationship.

'I'd love to say we knew right away when we met: "This is a three-picture deal!" she joked. 'But that's not how it happened.'

Awkward: She told the mag there were times casting directors would yell at her; but it was even worse when they said nothing at all. 'People would look up at me and look back at their paper and not look at me again,' she recalled

In fact, Stone revealed she wasn't sure Gosling even knew who she was when she was first cast in Crazy Stupid Love.

'Now we have the luxury of hitting the ground running, which, for something like this, is a huge benefit,' Gosling claimed.

'You can spend a lot of time being polite and respectful of what you perceive the other person's process to be.'

Director Damien Chazelle, who helmed 2014 Oscar-winner Whiplash, also revealed Miles Teller, Michael B Jordan and Emma Watson were at one time approached to play the leads.

Fantastic two: Director Damien Chazelle (pictured) who helmed 2014 Oscar-winner Whiplash, also revealed Miles Teller, Michael B Jordan and Emma Watson were at one time approached to play the leads

Although it has been attracting rave reviews from critics after festival viewings, he is still anxious about the pulling power of a musical with modern audiences.

However, Stone is fully confident the film will continue to impress.

'I feel these have been a really rough times,' she said. 'To have something so transporting that brings you joy and nostalgia and hope and heartbreak for two hours is something that's really special and needed right now.

'They also created a world that's so beautiful and would be vibrant and exciting at any time, but right now it's nice to be part of something that has this kind of joy in it.'

Backing: Although it has been attracting rave reviews from critics after festival viewings, Chazelle is still anxious about the pulling power of a musical with modern audiences. However, Stone is fully confident the film will continue to impress