Sharon Stone reveals why people are still 'terrified' of her
Sharon Stone has opened up about the lasting impact of Basic Instinct, revealing that people are still 'terrified' of her more than three decades after the film made her a household name.
Released in 1992, Paul Verhoeven’s erotic psychological thriller starred Stone as Catherine Tramell, a wealthy novelist who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a former rock star. Michael Douglas played detective Nick Curran, who is tasked with investigating the case and soon finds himself drawn into Catherine’s world.
The film became a huge commercial success and catapulted Stone to fame, with her performance as the cool, mysterious Catherine becoming one of the defining roles of her career.
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But according to Stone, the character’s intimidating reputation followed her straight out of the cinema and into real life.
Speaking to Variety, the actor recalled what happened when journalists were brought in to interview her after watching the film.
"What they would do is they would show the film to the press and then bring them in to interview me. They were terrified, and they would sit down opposite me and panic," she said.
"That hasn’t changed; people are still terrified of me in one way or another."
Stone believes it was the nature of Catherine herself that unsettled people.
"I think that the basic construct of a woman declaring herself as separate and indomitable was, and remains, a terrifying construct," she explained.
And while she can understand why audiences might struggle to separate her from one of her most famous characters, Stone says the reality is very different.
"I’m starting to learn that there are just places and things I can’t do by myself; I need an icebreaker," she said.
"I also really understand how I need to say, 'Hi, I’m Sharon. What’s your name?' But it’s not me, right?"
She went on to describe herself as 'a fragile, physically little, delicate, shy, private, loner, gentle, very empathetic artist', adding: "Not at all like that character, nothing to do with that character."
Stone has previously joked about being repeatedly associated with darker roles, telling the publication: "Because I was in Irreconcilable Differences — that was my lane, right? My lane was never going to be sex psychos."
Over three decades after its release, Basic Instinct remains a defining chapter in Stone’s career.
The Hollywood A-lister went on to star in more than 40 films, including Martin Scorsese’s Casino, earning a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for her performance.
Topics: Celebrity, TV And Film
Rhiannon Ingle