Sharon Yvonne Stone was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania to a factory working father and a mother, who was both an accountant and a homemaker and she has four siblings. A prodigy at a young age, at a mere 15 years old, Stone attended Edinboro State University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a degree in creative writing and fine arts. At 17, she entered the Miss Crawford County beauty contest and won. She then parlayed working part-time as a McDonald’s counter girl into becoming a successful Ford model, starring in TV commercials and print ads. In 1980, Stone made her silver screen debut as an extra in Woody Allen’s 1980 dramedy Stardust Memories and her first speaking part was in Wes Craven’s 1981 horror flick Deadly Blessing. Her big break didn’t come until 1990 when she was cast alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the science fiction adventure Total Recall. Her supporting role as Schwarzenegger’s character’s “wife” was so memorable that it put Stone on Hollywood’s radar. Two years later, Stone was cast in her breakthrough role as a sociopathic novelist in the 1992 thriller Basic Instinct and the interrogation scene has become a classic piece of film history. From there, Stone has starred with some of Hollywood’s hottest and brawniest stars, like Richard Gere and Sylvester Stallone, just to name a few. In honor of her 56th birthday, here is a Top 10 list of Sharon Stone movies.
10. Catwoman: In this 2004 actioner that picked up numerous Razzies and was panned by just about every critic in Hollywood, Stone managed to be its only bright spot as its villain, Laurel Hedare. The head of a major cosmetics firm, Stone played Laurel’s deadly determination to keep fact that her company’s new facial cream disintegrates one’s face if one stop using it but kept one young and impervious to pain if one keep using it, with lethal precision. In a movie that most of its cast would probably like to forget they were in, IMO, Stone should be proud of her role in it.
9. He Said, She Said: Stone had a small role in this 1991 romantic dramedy that also starred Kevin Bacon, Elizabeth Perkins and Nathan Lane. Stone played Linda Metzger, an old on-again-off again girlfriend of Bacon’s character, Dan, who his new girlfriend, Laurie (Perkins) is jealous of. Stone played the vixen trying to woo Dan back to her bed permanently with ease but in the end true love won out. Yet, her performance while minor, was notable.
8. Intersection: This 1994 romantic drama was a remake of the 1970 French film Les choses de la vie. It also starred Richard Gere, Lolita Davidovich, Martin Landau and a young Jennifer Morrison, now the star of ABC’s Once Upon A Time. Stone played Gere’s character’s, architect Vincent Eastman’s wife, Sally. Vincent is having an affair with journalist Olivia Marshak (Davidovich) but he loves both women. The movie is unique because it’s told in flashbacks as Vincent is involved in a car accident because he was distracted trying to decide between the two women. Stone played the gorgeous yet chilly Sally to a tee and though the movie got poor reviews from the critics, IMO, Gere, Davidovich and Stone were a masterful trio on screen.
7. The Specialist: This 1994 action thriller had Stone co-starring with Sylvester Stallone and James Woods. Stone played May Munro, who hires Ray Quick, (Stallone,) an ex-CIA explosives expert to exact revenge on the drug dealer who killed her parents when she was a child. Stone and Stallone made a powerful action duo amidst the movie’s plethora of explosions and stunts. Box-office wise the movie was a hit, but critics weren’t so kind. IMO, Stone delivered a solid performance as a grown woman seeking retribution for her parents’ murder.
6. Sliver: This 1993 romantic thriller was based on the Ira Levin book of the same name. Stone co-starred with William Baldwin, Tom Berenger, Colleen Camp, CCH Pounder, Martin Landau, Nina Foch and Nicholas Pryor. Stone played journalist Carly Norris, who moves into an exclusive Manhattan high rise, yet, the building residents keep dying mysteriously. Stone played the curious journalist with skilled accuracy and kept me on the edge of my seat while she sifted through clues and encountered dangerous situations until she learned the sickening truth.
5. Total Recall: This 1990 science fiction adventure was Stone’s breakout role and though a supporting role, her performance made Hollywood stand up and take notice of the blond bombshell. Stone co-starred with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Ronny Cox and Michael Ironside. Stone played Lori Quaid, Doug’s (Schwarzenegger) wife…or so he thought. She ends up kicking Schwarzenegger’s *ss once the ruse that she isn’t his wife but there to kill him is revealed. Though it was a minor role, Stone put her distinctive stamp on it and the rest is history!
4. Casino: This 1995 biographical crime drama was directed by Martin Scorsese and was based on the non-fiction book by Nicholas Pileggi of the same name. Stone co-starred with Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, James Woods and Kevin Pollak. Stone played a hustler named Ginger McKenna. Stone’s character’s push-pull relationship with DeNiro’s Mafioso character was riveting. She was even nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for the role.
3. The Quick and the Dead: This 1995 action Western was a departure from Stone’s usual roles. Co-starring Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe and a young Leonardo Dicaprio, Stone played “The Lady,” who rides into a town called Redemption looking for justice against the man who runs the town, John Herrod (Hackman.) Stone’s gun-toting skills were fabulous and she managed to keep me wondering what her character’s beef with Herrod was until the actual reveal. Her interaction with all three men was stellar and IMO, though it received mixed reviews from critics, Stone put forth an uncharacteristic performance that is very noteworthy.
2. The Muse: This 1999 comedy was Stone’s first and it was hilarious! Directed, written and also starring Albert Brooks, Andie MacDowell and Jeff Bridges, Stone played Sarah Little, aka “The Muse.” Screenwriter Steven Phillips (Brooks) is having writer’s block after winning a Lifetime Achievement Award. He’s introduced to Sarah, who he’s told is a “muse,” who has inspired most of the great filmmakers in Hollywood to produce award winning films. Yet, as she enters his and his wife, Laura’s (MacDowell) life, her lofty and expensive demands become comedic fodder for both. The wacky things she makes Brooks’ character do were nothing short of zany. Though a box office flop, IMO, Stone’s comedic timing was spot on and I hope she does more comedy in the future, though I fear it isn’t in the cards.
1. Basic Instinct: This 1992 erotic thriller put Stone into the minds of every living adult male in the country as she starred as the super sensuous psychopath novelist Catherine Tramell. Co-starring with Michael Douglas, George Dzundza and Jeanne Tripplehorn, moviegoers were on the edge of their seats as Stone delivered a twisted, seductive and carnal performance. The interrogation scene has become a classic scene in the annals of movie history and the role solidified Stone as a sex symbol in Hollywood.