Sharon Stone on Survival, Painting in the Nude, and Aging

On a clear spring morning in Los Angeles, Sharon Stone appears on my computer screen, dressed in jeans and a casual white T-shirt bearing the message “Dear Stress, Let’s Break Up.” She looks as captivating as she did when I first saw her as Ginger McKenna in Martin Scorsese’s Casino. In a few weeks, she will attend the Cannes Film Festival for the debut of her upcoming film, Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord. But today, it’s a virtual meeting between us, despite the miles separating us.

Stone takes me on a virtual tour of her home via her laptop. We pause in her spacious studio, where she has rekindled a childhood passion for painting, now earning acclaim as an abstract artist. Beyond her artistic pursuits, she is a mother and a stroke survivor, having endured a severe hemorrhage in 2001, followed by a challenging seven-year recovery.

You’re inspiring so many generations of women—perhaps, because you seem not to feel the pressure of perfection.

Sharon Stone: You’re mistaken; I’m just as neurotic and troubled as anyone else! People often only see the polished version of you in photos. But I’m not the flawless person people think I am! I’m not extraordinary. I have dark circles under my eyes like everyone else. I’ve had to be very disciplined over the years, and I continue to be; it’s like an OCD thing. Except for this winter, when we had four months of terrible weather in Los Angeles, and I did nothing. But the sun eventually returned, and so did my gym sessions and regular routine.

I work out for an hour and a half, five days a week, in my swimming pool. I do aquagym exercises underwater, using two-and-a-half-kilo weights on each ankle and arm. It’s crucial to perform these exercises below the water’s surface, fully submerged. After finishing my aquatic routine, I sit on the pool steps and pedal with my legs.

Are you a classic Californian, obsessed with green juices and avocados? Or what do you love to eat?

I come from a relatively humble background, so I prefer simple foods. I drink milk, eat fruits and vegetables, and similar things. I eat healthily to maintain my health. My background is French, so I enjoy that cuisine. I have a memorable experience of a dinner at the Grand Palais where the chef prepared a magnificent Tournedos Rossini with mashed potatoes, just like my grandmother used to make—I love it! Thinking of that dish makes me long to return to France!