BBC 100 Women: Sharon Stone’s emotional message to her younger self
When I inquire what advice Sharon Stone would give her younger self regarding resilience, her response catches us off guard.
We've discussed politics, art, and the film industry, but then she unexpectedly covers her eyes with her hand, takes a long pause, and begins to cry.
The message from the 66-year-old actress from Hollywood is, "You will succeed."
The actor, humanitarian, author, producer, and now painter shares her story about the time 23 years ago when a brain hemorrhage came dangerously close to taking her life.
"You may not realize it, but you will succeed," she keeps saying. "I wish I could get it inked on the inside of my eyelids."
Take a look: Actress Sharon Stone becomes emotional when she’s questioned about the guidance she would offer her younger self.
"I wish I had known this many times before," she expresses.
"When I was lying on the ground and unable to call for an ambulance," she goes on to explain. "When I returned home from the hospital, I saw in People magazine that it would take 30 days to find out if I would survive or not."
An artery burst, leading to bleeding in her brain and resulting in a stroke. She was told that her chances of survival were just 1%. She had to start from scratch to learn fundamental skills like walking and speaking again.
She continues by outlining the difficulties she has encountered since then, such as financial issues and a custody dispute with her former husband, Phil Bronstein, regarding their adopted son, Roan.
Before I asked my question, Stone admits she hadn’t fully realized that she had made it through the experience. “It’s been such a long time, and it’s alright… it’s finally over… everyone has reached safety,” she reflects.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Stone received her Global Citizen of the Year award from UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
This year's BBC World Service 100 Women series focuses on resilience, and she lights up with joy when I mention that she is included in our list of remarkable and impactful women.
Stone rose to fame after her role in the 1992 erotic thriller Basic Instinct, which established her as a sex symbol. She has mentioned how this led to her being often assigned similar roles in her career.
However, she leveraged her celebrity status to gather substantial donations for charitable initiatives, particularly for research related to HIV and AIDS.
"I'm incredibly proud that I transformed this concept from the movie—where I was portrayed as very attractive—into a platform to address a disease that was causing people to suffer because of their sexual orientation, especially since I faced similar struggles myself," she shares.
Stone's efforts regarding HIV and AIDS led to her receiving the 2013 Nobel Peace Summit Award. This honor is presented by Nobel Peace Prize winners to acknowledge cultural and entertainment personalities who have made notable contributions to social justice and peace.
Last year, the United Nations Correspondents Association recognized her as the Global Citizen of the Year.
Image credit: Getty Images
Stone was honored with the Stella della Mole Award in recognition of her lifelong contributions to the film industry.
Following the success of Basic Instinct, Stone earned a Golden Globe and got an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role in Martin Scorsese's 1995 movie, Casino.
I’m speaking with her in Turin, Italy, where the city's film museum has recognized her with the Stella della Mole Award for her contributions to cinema throughout her career.
In addition to her philanthropic efforts, Stone has been vocal about her political views, particularly her criticism of Donald Trump, who was elected President of the United States. On election day, she shared a photo of herself wearing a "Mrs. President" shirt to show her support for Kamala Harris.
"I view the world from a somewhat distinct perspective compared to many people in my country. However, that doesn't imply that I'm any less of a patriot," she expresses.
However, she states that she will "honor the position of the president... as that is what a democratic society does."
At this point, she has embarked on a fresh journey as a thriving artist, showcasing and selling her artwork globally.
She started concentrating on painting during the pandemic. Now, she creates her art in a studio located next to her house in Los Angeles.
Her art is striking and has an impressionistic style, and as she puts it, “quite big.” She shares that this is influenced by her aunt, who used to create murals on the walls of her home, and also because her vision isn't clear enough for her to work on smaller pieces.
She mentions that she doesn't see how the finished piece will turn out while she's painting. "I'm completely absorbed in the process," she explains. "It's such an immersive experience. It's simply amazing."
Image credit: Eva Oertwig, provided by News Travels Fast.
Earlier this year, Stone's artwork was showcased at an exhibition at Galerie Deschler in Berlin.
We also discuss online dating, highlighting that even Hollywood legend Sharon Stone is on dating apps, just like many others searching for romance. In fact, she was once temporarily banned from Bumble because some users believed her profile was a scam.
However, online platforms fail to provide what truly matters in dating: connection and chemistry, she explains. "You have to discover that on your own, much like a truffle pig searching for truffles," she jokes, noting that "you can't pick up on those feelings just by reading."
Stone describes how the brain hemorrhage transformed her into "a completely different person," affecting not only her preferences for food but also introducing new allergies.
Image credit: Getty Images
Photographed at the Cinema Against AIDS Gala in 2014, Stone has been an advocate for HIV awareness since the 1990s.
The film industry has also evolved. According to Stone, "women used to portray male fantasies," highlighting that it was men who wrote, directed, produced, edited, and distributed the movies.
She expresses that she wasn’t entirely persuaded by the behaviors of certain characters she's portrayed in the past. However, she now believes, “We’re reaching a point where women are beginning to portray responses that reflect how a woman would genuinely act in those situations.”
I inquire with Stone about what resilience signifies for her.
"We have the option to complain and feel sorry for ourselves or to embrace happiness - I believe it's important to consistently pick happiness," she explains. "Focus on the moment. If you’ve stumbled, stand back up. If someone knocked you down, now they’re offering a hand to help you up. Accept their help."
As the interview wraps up, the team freshens up her makeup. She takes a sip of water. After that, she gets up, gives me a hug, and expresses her gratitude for my question about her younger self, describing it as "very meaningful." She hugs me once more before heading out.
Every year, BBC 100 Women highlights 100 remarkable and powerful women from around the globe. You can keep up with BBC 100 Women by following them on Instagram and Facebook. Be part of the discussion by using the hashtag #BBC100Women.
