Sharon Stone, after over three decades in Hollywood and with over one hundred acting credits to her name, knows a thing or two about the highs and lows of the industry.
Now 65, the star, whose breakthrough role was Total Recall in 1990, before 1992's Basic Instinct made her a household name, has always been open about her struggles within the industry.
She has never shied away from calling out ageism in Hollywood or admitting to dwindling opportunities, and in a new interview, she was unafraid to be transparent about the disappointments she has faced as a result – including naysayers who discouraged her from continuing to work after age 40.
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Speaking on Spectrum News Southern California, Sharon did not hold back. In a clip from the segment shared on her Instagram, interviewer Giselle Fernandez looked back on the first time she sat down with the actress circa 1998, when she was 40.
At the mention of her age 25 years ago, Sharon quickly quipped: "And suddenly, [I] was 'too old to work,'" making air quotes.
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Giselle then recalled "the best line ever" the Basic Instinct lead gave her at the time when she asked what was so great about turning 40, remembering she had leaned back on her chair and confidently said: "It's great, you know you have all night."
Sharon agreed with her statement back then, and said: "Well you do, I mean, you're old enough to know what you want and young enough to go get it. And you look amazing!" adding: "I looked amazing! I looked like some Scandinavian princess! I look at pictures of myself and think, 'That was old?' Oh my god."
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Then, when asked if she "really felt" that she had lost work after she hit 40, she admitted: "Are you kidding? I could name the names of the actors who said that I was too old to work with them."
Nonetheless, the Pennsylvania native maintained she will always work, whether in acting or beyond – she is also an avid painter and frequently shares her works on her Instagram – and said: "I am going to get up and work.
"If it's not for Hollywood, it's going to be for somebody else because I'm a worker. I come from blue-collar blood, baby."
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