Even more than three decades after the role that cemented her status as a Hollywood icon, Sharon Stone says people still struggle to separate her from one of the most famous characters she ever played.
In a recent interview with Variety, the 68-year-old actress spoke candidly about the lasting impact of playing Catherine Tramell in the 1992 thriller Basic Instinct. Stone starred as a mysterious novelist suspected of murder, creating one of the most memorable film figures of the 1990s.
Stone recalled that following the movie’s release, even journalists assigned to interview her seemed intimidated. She noted that reporters were shown the film immediately before meeting her, leaving them visibly unnerved during their sit-downs.
According to Stone, that reaction never fully faded, stating that people remain uneasy around her in one way or another to this day.
The actress attributes part of this reaction to the nature of the character itself. Catherine Tramell was independent, assertive, and entirely unfazed by the men attempting to control her. Stone believes the concept of a woman declaring herself fully independent and unflappable remains unsettling to many.
However, Stone emphasizes that her onscreen persona bears little resemblance to who she is off-camera. She describes herself in real life as soft-spoken, reserved, private, and deeply empathetic. Over the years, she has realized that she often needs to take the initiative to break the ice with people by introducing herself plainly to put them at ease.
She noted with a touch of humor that comedy might have helped shift that public perception, adding that her natural disposition was never that of a “sexy psychopath.”
More than 30 years after its release, Basic Instinct continues to follow her, with Catherine Tramell remaining so deeply tied to Stone’s public image that the actress still navigates the shadow of her most famous role.
