10 things you (probably) didn’t know about Sharon Stone

What do you know about Sharon Stone? That she starred in Total Recall alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger? That she played one of the most iconic and controversial scenes in film history, in Basic Instinct? That she was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Casino? While most people know her as an actress, her filmography tells only a small part of her story. As she described in her 2021 memoir The Beauty of Living Twice, her life off-screen has been just as dramatic as the roles she’s played on film. A longtime activist and humanitarian, she was often an outsider in Hollywood—advocating for actors’ rights and serving as a powerful voice for women in an industry that has traditionally overlooked them. Most recently, she has stepped into a new and equally fascinating chapter of her career—as a painter.

One of the most striking and acclaimed actresses of her generation, she is sharp-tongued, multitalented, and utterly fearless when it comes to surviving life’s hardships—and chasing her own dreams. Below, we bring you 10 things you might not know about Sharon Stone.

Destined for Success

Sharon Stone spent her childhood far from the glamour of Hollywood. Still, even as a young girl, she carried a belief in her future stardom. “When I was little, growing up in Meadville, Pennsylvania, I had a feeling I was going to be a movie star,” she recalls. “It was just something I knew I was going to be. I was going to live in a house with a spiral staircase”—which eventually came true. This conviction was all the more remarkable given her innate shyness. “I was very shy,” she admits. “When I read the Bible in church, I was so shy that tears would fall onto the pages. I was the kid who sat in the closet with a flashlight reading books.” Despite that, her inner belief in her own success never wavered, and that early resilience and sense of destiny proved crucial for the challenges that lay ahead.

Which actress was originally supposed to play the lead role in Basic Instinct?

Before Sharon Stone became synonymous with the femme fatale archetype, the role of the mysterious writer Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct had been offered to numerous Hollywood stars. Michelle Pfeiffer, Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, and Brooke Shields were all considered—but each turned down the script, mostly due to its explicit scenes or disagreements with the film’s tone. Sharon was 13th on that list, driven by an unexplainable desire to land the part. “I wanted to play Catherine so badly that I kept the script on my fridge for eight months,” she revealed. “I kept saying, ‘I’m going to manifest this, I will get this role,’ while they were offering it to every other actress on the planet…”

Eventually, the producers gave her the green light—but the drama didn’t end there. Michael Douglas, who had already been confirmed as the male lead, nearly backed out when he learned that Julia Roberts would not be playing his on-screen partner—he had personally hoped she would take the role.

Decades later, Sharon spoke publicly about how the now-iconic interrogation scene was filmed without her full consent, as well as the deep gender pay gap in the film industry: for Basic Instinct, she earned $500,000, while Douglas was paid a staggering $14 million.

Photo: MUBI

She survived a stroke and speaks openly about it

In 2001, Sharon Stone suffered a devastating stroke — a brain hemorrhage that lasted nine days, with only a 1% chance of survival. In an interview with Vogue, she revealed that doctors initially thought she was faking symptoms, describing the situation as a classic example of “medical gaslighting” — when women’s health concerns are not taken seriously: “What I learned is that when you’re a woman in a medical setting, often you’re not heard at all, especially if you don’t have a female doctor.” Severely injured, she quickly lost the ability to speak, walk, and even write her name. When she left the hospital, she was exhausted and had lost 18% of her body weight. The ordeal lasted years — it took her seven years before she could say she had truly recovered. Yet her message of survival and self-advocacy is clear: “I walk on two legs, wear heeled boots — and I can do it. I survived, and so can you.”

Today, Sharon Stone is active in raising awareness about stroke in women. She serves on the board of the Barrow Neurological Foundation and organizes fundraising events for neurological disease research, showing that survival is not only a personal triumph but also a mission.

She has adopted three boys

Although she did not become a biological mother, Sharon Stone found great fulfillment through adoption. She adopted Roan in 2000, while still married to journalist Phil Bronstein. After their divorce, a lengthy custody battle followed, which she ultimately lost, marking a deeply emotional blow for Sharon. Nevertheless, she continued to expand her family—Laird was adopted in 2005, and Quinn in 2006.

She has often emphasized that her sons are “the greatest love and meaning in my life,” and in interviews, she frequently speaks about how they have taught her patience, tenderness, and a strength that doesn’t come from the red carpet but from the everyday challenges of parenting. Today, the four of them form a strong and close-knit family, far removed from Hollywood clichés.

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Leonardo DiCaprio became famous thanks to her

When filming the western The Quick and the Dead (1995), Sharon Stone was not only the lead star but also served as an executive producer. It was during this time that she made a decision that would, as it later turned out, have a huge impact on the career of a young actor.

The studio was reluctant to cast Leonardo DiCaprio for the role of a young man named Kid because he wasn’t yet a big name in the industry. Although he had already shown his talent in films like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, the general public was not widely familiar with him. However, Sharon recognized his charisma and potential, and she personally paid his fee to secure him for the role. Leonardo has since publicly expressed his gratitude to Sharon for that opportunity, and The Quick and the Dead is often cited as one of the turning points in his career.

She became a painter

In the years after retiring from the film industry, Sharon Stone found a new form of expression—painting. During the pandemic, she started experimenting with paint-by-numbers kits for adults but quickly moved on to her own abstract works, full of detail and emotion. Her first solo gallery exhibition, titled Shedding, opened in March 2023 at the Allouche Gallery in Los Angeles. This exhibition marked her entry into the art world, showcasing pieces that reflect her personal transitions and transformations. In October 2023, Stone held her first East Coast premiere exhibition at the C. Parker Gallery in Greenwich, Connecticut. The show, called Welcome to My Garden, featured 19 of her paintings and was the first time her work was displayed outside Los Angeles. Her art has been praised by collectors and critics alike, including Jerry Saltz, senior art critic for New York Magazine and Pulitzer Prize winner for criticism.

“As an actress, it was very important for me to have another creative outlet. Because, when you’re a woman, one day they just tell you that you can’t anymore. As if the human condition ceases to exist for women after a certain age,” she says with a smile. “That’s why I paint. That’s why I write. That’s why I do all those other things. I was told early on, ‘Stick to your path.’ And I said, ‘Sorry, but my path is to be an artist.’”

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Humanitarian work

Although her collaboration with amfAR remains one of the key pillars of Sharon Stone’s humanitarian work, her contribution to society far exceeds AIDS research and advocacy. As a tireless supporter of numerous charitable causes, she uses her celebrity status to raise awareness and secure resources for a wide range of social issues. In 2013, Sharon received the Peace Summit Award from Nobel Peace Laureates for her work with HIV/AIDS patients. She also strongly supports Planet Hope, a nonprofit founded by her sister Kelly Stone that aids homeless and abused children and their families.

Her humanitarian efforts also include backing the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. On environmental protection, she is involved with Global Green USA, advocating for solutions to climate change. Her dedication to children’s welfare is reflected in her support for the Lupus LA “Moms For Moms” campaign and her role as chairperson for the Foundation for AIDS Research campaign.

In recent years, Sharon has become an increasingly vocal advocate for women’s rights and empowerment. She supports the Women’s Cancer Research Fund and openly discusses gender inequality in Hollywood and beyond. Her activism also extends to LGBTQ+ rights, emergency relief efforts, and animal protection.

Fighter for Women’s Rights

Sharon Stone has repeatedly emphasized that the fight for gender equality in the film industry is far from over. In an interview with Vogue, she stated: “We are paid less, given fewer opportunities, and expected to act like it’s perfectly normal. I refuse to accept that. Women deserve equal treatment, equal pay, and respect—not only in this industry but everywhere.” Besides this, she has often spoken about the pressures women face to conform to stereotypes and meet demands that relate not just to talent but also to appearance. During the #MeToo movement, she was among the courageous voices supporting women who experienced violence and abuse, stressing that change is only possible if we collectively fight for transparency and accountability. Sharon also openly highlights the problem of ageism in the industry, pointing out how women are frequently marginalized because of their age.

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One of the most intelligent actresses in Hollywood

Sharon Stone is considered one of the most intelligent actresses in Hollywood: her IQ is estimated to be an impressive 154, which is nearly equal to Elon Musk’s IQ, believed to be around 155, leading fans to often compare the two. Even as a child, she was regarded as a prodigy, enrolling in university at just 15 years old, where she studied arts and literature, demonstrating early intellectual maturity and broad interests. Although she didn’t complete her studies at that time, her career took a completely different direction—she signed with a prestigious modeling agency and began working in major fashion capitals like New York, Paris, and Milan. Interestingly, many years later, in 2016, she returned to the same university and finally completed what she had started, once again confirming her commitment to personal growth and education, despite her brilliant career.