Sharon Stone’s Tearful Reflection on Resilience and Life’s Challenges

In a heartfelt moment during an interview, Sharon Stone, 66, reveals the message she would tell her younger self about resilience—"You're going to make it." As she recalls overcoming a brain hemorrhage that nearly ended her life 23 years ago, Stone becomes emotional, reflecting on the unimaginable hardships she has faced since.

Stone’s health battle, which left her with just a 1% chance of survival after an artery ruptured, included relearning basic functions like walking and talking. She recounts the time she was bedridden, uncertain whether she would live or die. The emotional weight of her experience is evident as she says, “I would have wanted to know it so many times,” emphasizing the importance of believing in oneself, even in the darkest times.

In the years since, Stone has faced additional challenges, including financial difficulties and a custody battle for her adopted son Roan with ex-husband Phil Bronstein. Yet, despite everything, she acknowledges, “It’s over… everybody made it to shore,” a sign of her profound resilience.

This year’s BBC World Service 100 Women season celebrates remarkable women like Stone for their inspiration and influence, and Stone beams with pride at being included. Known for her breakout role in Basic Instinct (1992), which catapulted her to superstardom, Stone has always used her fame to advocate for causes, particularly HIV/AIDS awareness. She reflected on her work in HIV/AIDS research, noting how her fame as a "sex symbol" helped raise awareness for a cause where others were being persecuted for their sexuality, just as she had been.

Her humanitarian efforts earned her the 2013 Nobel Peace Summit Award for contributions to social justice, and she was named Global Citizen of the Year by the United Nations Correspondents Association in 2022. In addition to her advocacy, Stone also won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Casino (1995), directed by Martin Scorsese.

The interview took place in Turin, Italy, where Stone was honored with the Stella della Mole Award for her lifetime achievement in film. Beyond acting and activism, Stone has ventured into painting, a new passion that began during the pandemic. She now works from her Los Angeles studio, creating bold, impressionistic pieces inspired by her aunt's mural paintings.

Stone's art is large-scale, in part due to her visual impairment, but also because she is deeply immersed in the creative process. “I’m just in it so deeply,” she says, describing her artwork as both cathartic and liberating.

Now, as she reflects on her extraordinary journey from Hollywood icon to philanthropist and artist, Sharon Stone remains an inspiring figure, showing us that resilience can guide us through the toughest of times.