Sharon Stone emerged as an iconic sex symbol during the vibrant era of the 1990s. However, her celebrity status came at a high cost.
The actress-producer felt extremely stressed about her weight gain during her twenties; she reportedly ‘wanted to die’ due to the unwanted attention that her curvaceous figure attracted.
Sharon Stone became a sex symbol in the 1990s due to a combination of factors. One of the main reasons was her captivating and provocative performance in the erotic thriller film Basic Instinct, which premiered in 1992.
Her portrayal of Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct exemplified the archetype of a Femme Fatale – an alluring female character who employs her seductive qualities to manipulate and influence other characters.
The star-making role, coupled with the infamous leg-crossing scene, generated significant controversy and only heightened her allure.
Stone’s confident and assertive on-screen presence, coupled with her striking beauty and charisma, contributed to her widespread appeal and cemented her status as a sex symbol during that era.
Sharon was born and raised in Meadville, a small town in Pennsylvania. She grew up in a strict household; her father was a factory worker and her mother was a homemaker. When she rose to fame in the ’90s, many considered the young actress to be the epitome of beauty.
However, Sharon struggled with self-confidence and didn’t appreciate her own body. It wasn’t until she starred in Basic Instinct that her attitude changed.
”I never knew I could be beautiful until I saw ‘Basic Instinct’,” she told Aftonbladet in 2012.
She still remembers the first screening vividly.
”I was shocked at how pretty they had made me.”
The reason for her shattered self-confidence can be traced back to her teenage years. When Sharon was 14 years old, she suffered a severe neck injury while attempting to break a horse that bucked as it charged toward a washing line.
As a side effect of the medication she was prescribed after the accident, she gained 45 pounds (20 kg).
”When I was 20, after my horseback riding accident, I was given cortisone shots, and I gained a lot of weight from that, like 45 pounds,” she told America’s Shape magazine and added:
”I looked a little like Anna Nicole Smith, with a tiny waist, big boobs, and a big butt. Everywhere I went, men went insane over my va-va-voom body. I just wanted to die, and I became an introvert,” she added.
Over the years, Sharon has faced many difficulties – and she had a hard time accepting the fact that she was aging. During her 40s, it went so far that she experienced a significant emotional breakdown.
”There was a point in my 40s when I went into the bathroom with a bottle of wine, locked the door, and said, ‘I’m not coming out until I can totally accept the way I look right now’… I examined my face in the magnifying mirror, and I looked at my body, and I cried and cried and cried.”
This isn’t the first time the Basic Instinct star has spoken up about issues she’s had with her body. In her memoir, The Beauty of Living Twice, she explained how in 2001 doctors removed benign tumors that were “gigantic, bigger than my breast alone.”
This led to a plastic surgeon giving her larger breast implants without her consent because they would “go better” with her body.
“When I was unbandaged, I discovered that I had a full cup-size bigger breasts, ones that he said ‘go better with your hip size’ ” Stone said. “He had changed my body without my knowledge or consent.”
In 2021, Stone spoke to Oprah about her near-fatal stroke. While she took a two-year break from acting, Stone admitted it took seven years to fully recover.
“People treated me in a way that was brutally unkind,” Stone said. “From other women in my own business to the female judge who handled my custody case, I don’t think anyone grasps how dangerous a stroke is for women and what it takes to recover.”
Sharon Stone bikini picture
Today, Sharon appears to be doing better than ever and is busy gearing up for summer. On Wednesday, the mother-of-three confidently showcased her beach body on Instagram, sporting a daring two piece at her Beverly Hills mansion.
The photos of a makeup-free Sharon in a green, leopard bikini delighted her followers – she looked terrific! While the pictures seemed to be taken in Sharon’s living room, it wasn’t the background that caught the attention of her fans.
As is often the case when women in their prime share pictures of their bodies, there were some who couldn’t resist making agist remarks. However, the vast majority celebrated Sharon and her physique – the intimate photos were met with an outpouring of praise. To summarize the reactions, most wrote that Sharon was brave for showing her ”natural” beauty, and people loved that she continues to inspire and be iconic.
“I posted it because I feel like women become invisible once we become moms and you’re 45 and people walk by you like you’re not there,” Stone said in 2022, after sharing another picture of her in swimming wear.
The Hollywood star, known for her age-defying looks, has unveiled some of her “secret” methods for maintaining a youthful appearance.
“I feel most alive when I dance. Not just a little bit now and then. No, I dance my soul at least three or four nights a week! This keeps you in shape and awake and ignites life energy.
“I also got my sleep rhythm in order by not pulling the curtains anymore and therefore waking up at eight instead of twelve at noon.”
This is not the first time Sharon has displayed her swimsuits in public. As mentioned before, there are always those who have opinions about her and how she is aging gracefully. Not everyone appreciates it, though, according to Sharon herself.
Speaking with Vogue, she revealed that she once dated a younger man who broke up with her after she rejected his suggestion that she should get Botox.
”If you don’t see me for more than that, you’ll please find your way to the exit,” she said.
Thank you, Sharon, for continuing to be yourself and inspiring us! At 65 years old, you are enjoying life, just as we all should, regardless of our bodies.