Emma Stone defends herself against weight jibes

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 star Emma Stone has hit back at criticisms of her slim figure, insisting she finds it difficult to put on weight.

The 25 year old's tiny frame has been called into question in the years since she shot to fame, with some fans suggesting she has caved in to Hollywood pressure to be thin.

In an interview with Seventeen.com, Stone admits that having body confidence can be tough for anyone, but it's even more of a struggle when your image is put under the microscope.

She explains, "It can be really challenging in today's world for anyone - especially girls and women - to feel good about their bodies. No matter how things look from the outside, we can all be super critical of ourselves and of our image in the mirror.

"I've seen articles or comments that have addressed my weight, or ‘caving to pressure to be thin.’ Keeping weight on is a struggle for me - especially when I'm under stress, and especially as I've gotten older. That's the way my genes have decided to go, and things will change as time goes on, as does everything."

She continues, "So when completely untrue statements are made about me or my health, of course a part of me wants to defend. Thing is, people have a right to imagine what they want to imagine. My job at those moments is to tell myself the truth.

"Am I taking care of myself in a healthy way? Am I respecting myself and being responsible? And over and over, I answer yes to that question. Then I remind myself to be kind to myself, and as slightly ridiculous as it may sound, to treat myself in the same gentle way I'd want to treat a daughter of mine. It really helps."