In a recent interview with Chris Wallace on Max and CNN, Sharon Stone reflected on her famous scene in the 1992 film Basic Instinct. In the scene, Stone’s character, Catherine Tramell, is being interrogated by a room full of men, and she crosses her legs to reveal that she isn’t wearing any underwear.
Stone explained that when she first read the script, she realized that Catherine Tramell was a character who spoke “man.” She would respond to the men in the room in the same way they spoke to her, which was a “showstopper” for them. Stone believed that this aspect of the character was not only right for the role, but also reflected the era in which the film was made. At the time, there was a lot of controversy surrounding AIDS, and the film itself received a triple X rating from the review board.
However, Stone pointed out that compared to the content we see nowadays, the scene in Basic Instinct is actually quite tame. She mentioned that there are now television shows that feature full frontal male nudity, whereas in Basic Instinct, the scene merely shows her crossing her legs.
Stone also reflected on the impact of the scene on her life. Her acting teacher, Roy London, had told her that the scene was crucial because it stopped all the action in the movie. He advised her to be super present and specific in every moment of the scene. Little did Stone know that being super present in that moment would change the dynamic of her life forever.
The scene in Basic Instinct continues to be one of the most iconic moments in film history, and it solidified Sharon Stone’s status as a sex symbol and talented actress. However, Stone’s reflections also shed light on the changing landscape of media and censorship. What was scandalous and controversial in 1992 may seem tame by today’s standards. Nevertheless, the impact of that scene on Stone’s career and personal life cannot be understated. It serves as a reminder of the power of a single moment in an actor’s life and the lasting legacy it can have.
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