Sharon Stone, famously known for her role in "Basic Instinct," discloses a disturbing incident in her memoir, "The Beauty of Living Twice," where she was pressured by a studio executive to engage in Love relations with her co-star due to supposed chemistry issues.
In her candid narrative, the actress delves into the uncomfortable conversation she had with the executive, choosing not to disclose the film's name or the individual involved.
She expressed her incredulity, thinking, "You insisted on this actor, even though he couldn't perform a single complete scene in the test... Now you think that if I sleep with him, he will become a good actor? No one is that good in bed." Stone's book reveals her candid thoughts on the situation.
"I felt like they could have hired someone with talent who could perform a scene and remember his lines. Furthermore, they could have arranged for encounters on their own, without involving me. My job was to act, I asserted, and this response did not sit well, contributing to my reputation as a 'difficult' actress."
This was not an isolated incident; the actress states that on several occasions, producers suggested that she should have relations with her co-stars for the betterment of the film.
Many inquire about what my days as a superstar were like, and it was like this: 'Play ball or leave the field, girl.'"
An excerpt from Stone's autobiography published by Vanity Fair magazine also recounts the shocking revelation that she was unaware her private parts would be filmed and exposed in the famous leg-crossing scene from "Basic Instinct."
She recalls the moment she first saw the shot at a screening, surrounded by agents and lawyers, reflecting, "That's how I saw the scene of my vagina for the first time, after an extended period during which I was informed during filming: 'You can't see anything, we only need you to remove your underwear because white reflects the light and makes them visible.' Yes, there have been many perspectives on this matter, but since I'm the one with the concerned anatomy, I'll tell you that the other viewpoints don't matter."
Stone describes her reaction to the revelation as she confronted director Paul Verhoeven and reached out to his lawyer, Marty Singer.
She says, "He told me that they couldn't release the movie in its current form... And according to Marty, as per the Screen Actors Guild, my union, it was illegal for them to have taken this shot of my dress. 'Wow,' I thought. Well, that was my initial thought. Then I contemplated further. What if I were the director? What if I had captured that shot? What if he had done it intentionally? Or by accident? What if it simply existed? There were countless things to consider. I knew the type of movie I was making. For heaven's sake, I fought for that role, and throughout that time, it was only this director who stood up for me!"
Although Stone gained the ability to select her co-stars in her contracts after achieving success, she reveals that it was a mere formality on paper.
"No one cared. They chose whomever they pleased. At times, to my dismay, and in other cases, to the detriment of the film," Stone notes in her book.
In her memoir, the actress also reflects on the changes in the industry since the 1980s and 1990s. She emphasizes that while progress has been made, there is still much work to be done to achieve gender equality and ensure safe spaces for women.
