How Sharon Stone changed my perception of female sexuality

There are certain films, music, and other content you consume during your formative years that, when you look back, you realize have shaped you. I discovered most of these during the period when I was getting to know some cult films from past decades — the kind you mentioned — the ones that make people stop and ask: How have you never seen this? Through those films, I became familiar with Michelle Pfeiffer, Monica Bellucci, Sharon Stone, and other femme fatales — women who fascinated me just as much as everyone else. And the irresistible Sharon Stone, dressed entirely in white in the film Basic Instinct, holds a special place in my memory.

I have always struggled with the concept of the femme fatale. Of course, I’m fascinated by the beauty of these women, by the fact that with just a look they can melt the coldest hearts, and that every one of their movements is like art. However, in pop culture, it often happens that when we become enchanted by someone’s beauty, we become completely blind to all their other qualities. That’s why the roles of these beauties in primarily male casts often scared me, because I believed they were there simply to be eye candy for someone else’s pleasure, without much thought given to what happens behind the scenes. Many stunning actresses over the years have shared their experiences filming movies and confirmed my suspicions, which I had harbored since childhood — aware that the society we live in primarily sees women as objects of desire. Precisely because of that, Sharon Stone captivated me from the very first film I watched with her — she continuously proved that yes, she might be beautiful, but she is so much more than that, which I believe is the kind of role model young girls should grow up with.

Courtesy of StudioCanal

“I’m not stupid,” says Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct, after her police interrogation turns into a mental game in which she clearly takes control. Stone is brilliant in this monologue — beautiful, thoughtful, displaying the power of female sexuality and intelligence. In this scene, Stone talks about sex and famously spreads her legs while wearing a mini skirt. When I first saw it, I was captivated by the confidence and openness of both the character and the actress, thinking that it really took a boldness to perform that. I felt there was nothing taboo about it — the body is the body, and we ourselves choose how much or how little we want to reveal to others. More than that, I saw Sharon’s move as one of power and self-assurance.

With that in mind, after watching the film, I learned that the actress actually didn’t know how revealing that scene would be, claiming that director Paul Verhoeven promised her that “nothing would be seen.” That was a classic move by a man in a position of power — an absolute exploitation of his role that should never have happened, because only Sharon has the right to decide how and how much her body will be shown.

But how Sharon Stone handled it is what proved why she is an absolute legend. When she saw the scene for the first time, a surprised Sharon slapped the director. Then she confirmed that the scene absolutely made sense for her character — a sexually liberated young woman — but that the director should at least have had the decency to tell her how the scene would look. This scene is considered the “most paused scene in film history,” and as a woman, that fact might have offended me, but given Sharon’s character, who does nothing for the male gaze and only for her own benefit, I still see it as a small female victory.

Courtesy of Rex Features

Captivated by the actress, I later watched Sharon Stone in the film Casino. In the series Euphoria, Rue says that Sharon’s role in this film, Ginger McKenna, is Maddy’s spirit animal — and since I really like both Maddy and Sharon, it’s probably clear to you that this role only cemented her place in my heart. Ginger is brave, bold, quite manipulative, and materialistic — some labels I wouldn’t usually attribute to someone I consider a quality person, but in her case, in a world surrounded by men who see her only as a piece of meat, I actually like those traits. With this role, Sharon once again proved that she’s not just another beautiful actress, but an exceptionally talented and layered individual. Also, her role in Casino shows that Sharon Stone is a true girl boss — while learning to act, she said she wanted to one day be good enough to act alongside Robert De Niro, and in this film, she stood shoulder to shoulder with the legendary actor.

What makes Sharon Stone unique is that she has outgrown the definition of the femme fatale. It’s undeniable that many men (and women) watched her films just because of her looks — which is pretty inevitable when you look that good — but Sharon managed to make these roles appealing to women as well, successfully breaking taboos around female sexuality. Her allure doesn’t come solely from her appearance, but from the charisma and confidence that radiate from her. What left a special impression on my younger self, and continues to fascinate me to this day, is the fact that she is almost always in a position of power; her characters always lead the game, never being led by men (even when the men don’t realize it). Basic Instinct, Casino, Sliver, Intersection — these are just some of the films starring Sharon Stone that deserve your attention and prove the undeniable talent of an actress we can’t help but love.