Sharon Stone on why she didn't cut ‘Basic Instinct' crotch shot despite having ‘legal right' to

New York Post

2 days ago

Sharon Stone is tackling her infamous leg-crossing scene and explaining why she didn't pull it from 'Basic Instinct.'
The Oscar-nominated actress, 67, discussed the controversial moment from the 1992 erotic thriller in a candid interview with Business Insider published on Monday.
In the film, Stone played Catherine Tramell, the seductive crime author-turned-serial-killer, who was investigated by Michael Douglas' character, Det. Nick Curran.
13 Sharon Stone's memorable scene from 'Basic Instinct.'
©TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
13 The 1992 movie featured Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas.
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The most famous scene included Stone crossing her legs to reveal she wasn't wearing underwear while being questioned.
That shot caused the star to face scrutiny over the years, with Stone even claiming she lost custody of her son over the scene.
Now, she's revealing why she didn't make director Paul Verhoeven remove it from the movie, despite alleging she legally could have forced his hand.
13 Sharon Stone played Catherine Tramell, a seductive crime author-turned-serial-killer.
©TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
13 Michael Douglas starred as Det. Nick Curran, who was investigating her for murder.
Corbis via Getty Images
13 Sharon Stone revealed why she didn't force the director to remove the controversial scene.
sharonstone/Instagram
'I very much believe that none of us knew at the time what we were getting in regard to that shot, and when Paul got it, he didn't want to lose it, and he was scared to show me. And I get that,' Stone explained.
'Once I had time to calm down, I didn't make him take it out of the movie when I had the legal right to,' she continued.
Stone said time helped her process that the scene enhanced the flick.
13 Stone also claimed that she got into a shouting match with Michael Douglas before landing the role.
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13 Michael Douglas seemingly denied her allegations.
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She acknowledged that she 'did have the chance to do it differently,' but said, 'I didn't because once had the chance to step back, I understood, as the director, not the girl in the film, that that made the movie better.'
Stone also revealed whether she regretted taking on the role.
'It made me an icon, but it didn't bring me respect. But would I do it again? We don't get to make these choices in life. I don't participate in the fantasy world in this way,' she stated.
13 Sharon Stone has previously been vocal about her claims that she was made to believe the crotch shot scene was far less revealing than it was.
Instagram
'What I did with what happened is exactly the way I wanted to do it. Verhoeven and I have a wonderful relationship. I would work with him again in a second. We both understand. Even though we have different public ways of discussing it, we understand very well what happened regarding the crotch scene,' Stone explained.
The actress was vocal about her claims that she was made to believe the crotch shot scene was far less revealing than it was in her memoir, 'The Beauty of Living Twice.'
In it, Stone claimed that she saw the shot for the 'first time' with a room full of agents and lawyers.
13 She alleged she didn't see the actual footage until she was in a room full of lawyers and agents.
WireImage
13 Her 'Basic Instinct' director claimed Stone was 'lying' about now knowing what would be shown.
Instagram/@sharonstone
'That was how I saw my vagina-shot for the first time, long after I'd been told, 'We can't see anything — I just need you to remove your panties, as the white is reflecting the light, so we know you have panties on,' she explained.
Verhoeven previously claimed she was 'lying' about not knowing what would be shown in the scene.
'Any actress knows what she's going to see if you ask her to take off her underwear and point there with the camera,' he told ICON in 2017.
13 Stone said as the 'one with the vagina,' her opinion is the only one that matters and 'the other points of view are bulls–t.'
Getty Images
However, Stone held firm by stating that as the 'one with the vagina,' her opinion is the only one that matters and 'the other points of view are bulls–t.'
The starlet also revealed her alleged explosive first encounter with her co-star Douglas, claiming he 'wouldn't even test with me' after the pair got into a verbal altercation at the Cannes Film Festival before she landed the role in the flick.
'A bunch of us were all sitting, and he was talking about someone and their kids. I really, really knew this person he was talking about,' Stone said of Douglas. 'So I said something and he responded to me, saying, 'What the f–k do you know?' It was in regard to a father-child relationship.'
13 She also claimed that Michael Douglas didn't want to be her co-star following their alleged shouting match in Cannes.
Corbis via Getty Images
'So he screams this at me across a whole group of people. And I'm not the person who goes, 'Oh, excuse me, superstar.' I pushed back my chair and said to him, 'Let's step outside.' That's how we first met,' she claimed.
Once away from the group, Stone 'explained to him what the f–k I knew about this family he was speaking about, and that I was best friends with the children and the parent. And then we parted. I wouldn't say as best friends, but amicably.'
She added, 'I don't think he wanted me to be his costar.'
But Douglass shot down those claims, with his rep telling Business Insider he 'doesn't recall seeing or knowing Sharon' until seeing her 'Basic Instinct' screen test.
13 Michael Douglas' rep said the actor 'doesn't recall seeing or knowing Sharon' before seeing her screen test.
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'The only time Michael remembers the two of them in Cannes together was when they were there to screen and promote the picture,' the rep stated.
The Post reached out to Stone for comment.