Stone, a two-time Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner, shared her emotional journey following the court's decision during an interview with the IHeartRadio podcast Table for Two. The actress disclosed that the legal defeat took a toll on her physical and emotional well-being, to the extent that she had to be admitted to the Mayo Clinic due to a heart attack.
Recalling the courtroom proceedings, Stone expressed her dismay, stating, "The judge asked my son, my little son: 'Do you know that your mother works in s-- movies?'... It was an abuse of the system that my role as a mother was judged because I made that movie," as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
'Basic Instinct,' directed by Paul Verhoeven in 1992, was a box office hit and has since become a cinematic reference for enthusiasts. Stone portrayed the character Catherine Tramell, a young writer of detective novels and a serial killer, alongside fellow Hollywood star Michael Douglas.
The scene that transformed Stone's life and career, for better or worse, occurs during an interrogation when her character crosses her legs, revealing an in--mate view beneath her short white dress. Stone lamented the fact that despite the prevalence of n--ity in contemporary television, her custody battle was influenced by a mere second of potential n--ity on screen.
The consequences of the scene extended beyond Stone's personal life, affecting her professional engagements and award ceremonies. She recalled the Golden Globe Awards in 1993, where her name, as one of the nominees, prompted laughter from the audience.
"It was horrible. It was so humiliating... Does anyone have any idea how difficult it was to play that scene? How difficult, how scary?" Stone expressed, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. She also revealed that the controversial scene was included in the film without her full approval.
Stone further discussed the impact of the scene in her autobiography, 'The Beauty of Living Twice.' She highlighted how the scene not only affected her personal life but also had a profound effect on her career, including uncomfortable moments on stage and during awards shows.
The actress's candid reflections shed light on the challenges she faced due to societal judgment and the consequences of a single scene that forever altered her life and perception in the public eye.
