Sharon Stone Becomes Emotional Discussing Resilience with Her Younger Self

Upon being asked about the message she would convey to her younger self regarding resilience, Sharon Stone’s response was unexpected, surprising both the interviewer and herself. Despite previous discussions covering politics, painting, and Hollywood, she abruptly covered her eyes, paused significantly, and began to weep. The 66-year-old Hollywood actress stated that her message would be: “You’re going to make it.” Stone, known for her work as an actor, humanitarian, author, producer, and most recently, a painter, recalled the period 23 years prior when a brain haemorrhage almost claimed her life. She reiterated, “You don’t know it, but you’re going to make it,” adding, “I would have it tattooed on the inside of my eyelids.” “I would have wanted to have known it so many times,” she expressed. She elaborated on specific moments, stating, “When I was on the floor and couldn’t get an ambulance,” and further, “When I went home [from hospital] and I read in People magazine that we wouldn’t know for 30 days if I was going to live or die.” A ruptured artery had led to a cerebral haemorrhage and a stroke. She reported being given a 1% chance of survival and undergoing the process of relearning fundamental skills such as walking and talking. Subsequently, she enumerated additional difficulties encountered, including financial hardships and a custody dispute with her former husband, Phil Bronstein, concerning their adopted son, Roan. Stone clarified that prior to the interviewer’s inquiry, she had not completely acknowledged her journey through these experiences. “It’s been that long and it’s OK… it’s over… everybody made it to shore,” she remarked. The current BBC World Service 100 Women season focuses on the theme of resilience. Stone visibly brightened when informed of her inclusion on the list of inspiring and influential women. Stone achieved widespread recognition following her role in the 1992 erotic thriller Basic Instinct. This performance led to her being labeled a sex symbol, and she has previously discussed the resulting typecasting. However, she leveraged her celebrity status to accumulate substantial funds for charitable endeavors, notably for research related to HIV and Aids. She stated, “I’m really proud that I took this idea that was made up in this movie – that I was really sexy – and used it to fight a disease where people were getting punished for their sexuality, because I was getting punished for mine.” For her efforts concerning HIV and Aids, Stone received the 2013 Nobel Peace Summit Award, an honor bestowed by Nobel Peace Laureates to acknowledge cultural and entertainment personalities who have advanced social justice and peace. In the preceding year, the United Nations Correspondents Association recognized her as Global Citizen of the Year. Subsequent to Basic Instinct, Stone secured a Golden Globe award and an Academy Award nomination for best actress for her role in Martin Scorsese’s 1995 film Casino. The interview took place in Turin, Italy, following the city’s film museum presenting her with a Stella della Mole Award in recognition of her lifetime contributions to cinema. Beyond her philanthropic activities, Stone has also expressed strong political views, including her opposition to US President-elect Donald Trump. On election day, she shared an image of herself wearing a “Mrs President” top, signaling her support for Kamala Harris. “I see the world a little bit differently than a lot of my country. That doesn’t mean I’m not a patriot,” she commented. Nevertheless, she affirmed her intention to “respect the office of the president… because that is what a democracy does.” Currently, she has embarked on a new phase as an accomplished painter, showcasing and selling her artwork internationally. Her dedication to painting commenced during the pandemic period. She operates from a studio adjacent to her residence in Los Angeles. Her artistic creations are characterized by their boldness and impressionistic style, and as she describes them, they are “very large.” She attributes this scale partly to inspiration from an aunt who painted murals on her house walls, and partly to her limited vision preventing her from painting smaller works. She mentioned that she does not pre-visualize the ultimate appearance of her work while painting. “I’m just in it so deeply,” she stated. “It’s so immersive. It’s just wonderful.” The conversation also touched upon online dating, as the Hollywood icon and superstar Sharon Stone has, like many others seeking companionship, utilized dating applications. She even experienced a temporary block from Bumble when other users suspected her profile was fraudulent. However, she contended that websites “don’t give you the thing that dating’s all about, which is chemistry.” She elaborated, “You have to sniff that out for yourself like a truffle pig,” humorously adding that “you can’t smell through the pages.” Stone indicated that the brain haemorrhage transformed her into “a very different person,” altering even her dietary preferences and allergic reactions. The film industry has also undergone transformations. Stone observed that previously, “women were playing the fantasy of men” – men who, she pointed out, were responsible for writing, directing, producing, editing, and distributing the films. She admitted to not being persuaded by the actions of certain characters she portrayed. Yet, she now believes, “I think we’re getting to a place where women are just playing how a women would actually behave in the circumstance.” When asked to define resilience, Stone responded, “We can choose to bitch and moan or we can choose joy – I think you have to just keep choosing joy.” She further advised, “Stay present. You fell down. Get up. Someone pushed you down. Now they want to help you up. Let them.” As the interview concluded, her makeup was retouched by the team, and she drank some water. She then rose, embraced the interviewer, and expressed gratitude for the question concerning her younger self, which she described as “really poignant.” She then offered another embrace before departing. The BBC 100 Women initiative annually recognizes 100 inspiring and influential women globally. 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