According to Sharon Stone, the nudity featured in the 1992 film Basic Instinct played a role in her losing custody of her son 12 years later.
According to a recent episode of the Table for Two podcasts, Sharon Stone spoke about how her role in Basic Instinct was a factor in a custody battle over her adopted son, Roan, in 2003 and 2004. Stone claimed that during the case, the judge asked Roan if he knew that his “mother makes sex movies,” in reference to the explicit content in Basic Instinct. Stone believes that the movie influenced the judge’s perception of her as a parent. She also revealed that the verdict caused her to seek medical attention for heart issues at the Mayo Clinic, leaving her heartbroken.
The Legacy of Basic Instinct is Complex
Sharon Stone portrays a mysterious author in Basic Instinct, who becomes sexually involved with a detective (Michael Douglas) investigating a murder case in which she is a suspect. The most talked-about scene in the film features Stone briefly revealing she is not wearing underwear by crossing her legs during an interrogation. Stone claims in her 2022 memoir that she was unaware of how graphic the moment would be and was told by director Paul Verhoeven to remove her white panties. Verhoeven has denied this claim. In addition to its explicit content, the movie has been criticized for its portrayal of gay characters.
Before Basic Instinct, Sharon Stone had gained recognition for her roles in Allan Quatermain films alongside Richard Chamberlain and Total Recall directed by Verhoeven and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Despite this, it was Basic Instinct that propelled her to international fame. Stone expressed disappointment that her groundbreaking role did not earn her the respect of her peers when she was nominated for a Golden Globe, and she felt that they were laughing at her when the award had been offered to 13 other people.
After Basic Instinct, Stone appeared in another erotic thriller, Sliver, which was a moderate success. She also reprised her iconic role in the widely panned Basic Instinct 2 in 2006. Stone was in talks to play the main antagonist in the forthcoming Blue Beetle film, but the role went to Susan Sarandon instead.
