Sharon Stone: You had to be 'f***able' to be employable in Hollywood

Sharon Stone had to turn herself into a sex symbol in order to be successful in Hollywood.

The 61-year-old star has claimed that early on in her career actresses had to be deemed "f***able" by studio executives in order to get parts and revealed that to become more "employable" she did a "strategically planned" racy Playboy shoot in 1990 to coincide with the release of sci-fi thriller 'Total Recall' - in which she appeared opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger - to change the perception of her as an actress.

The decision worked as it led to her being cast in her most famous role in 1992 erotic thriller 'Basic Instinct', in which she stripped off and had sex in numerous scenes with leading man Michael Douglas.

In an interview with Vogue Portugal, she said: "When I entered the business the term 'f***able' was used to see if you were employable. The studio executives sat around a large table and discussed whether or not each of us was in fact 'f***able'. 

Love you @VoguePortugal- What great taste, style and wonderful talent I had the pleasure of working with! Thank You ! Sharon Stone

May Issue

• Editor in Chief: Sofia Lucas Cover Art Dir: José Satana Photographer: #BranislavSimoncik Make-Up: @missjobaker Hair: @giannandrea1 pic.twitter.com/nAK7vElFye

— Sharon Stone (@sharonstone) May 5, 2019

"They thought I was not. I gave this some hard thought as I wanted to work, so I did a strategically planned a semi-naked Playboy shoot. Did I fit the part? Obviously not.

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• @vogueportugal __ “When I started in this industry, the term ‘fuckable’ was used by studio executives to evaluate if you had the profile to get a role. They would sit around a table and discuss wether each one of us was indeed ‘fuckable’. They thought that I wasn’t.” @sharonstone for @vogueportugal’s may issue, on stands now. __ “Quando comecei nesta indústria, o termo ‘fuckable’ era usado pelos executivos para ver se tinhas perfil para conseguir um papel. Os executivos do estúdio sentavam-se à volta de uma mesa e discutiam se cada uma de nós era de facto ‘fuckable’. Eles achavam que eu não era.” Sharon Stone para a Vogue de maio, nas bancas. #vogueportugal #sexissues #editorinchief @sofia.slucas #photography @branislavsimoncik #styling @paris_libby #makeup @missjobaker #hair @giannandreahair Hair Colorist: @brooklynstephen #words @sarovski #mayisue #outnow #nasbancas #SharonStone #Sex #Vogue @lighthouse.publishing

A post shared by Sharon Stone(@sharonstone) on May 6, 2019 at 1:16pm PDT

"Did I use my brain to figure out how to appear 'f***able'? You bet ... But I didn't and I don't [feel like a sex symbol]."

Continuing to expose the sexism she has experienced in Hollywood, Sharon went on to recall an unnamed director she worked with on 2006's 'Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction' claiming he insisted she sat on his lap each day so he could give her his instructions.

May Issue • Vogue Portugal

•

Editor in Chief: Sofia Lucas, Cover Art Dir: José Satana

Photographer: #BranislavSimoncik, Stylist: Paris Libby, Make-Up: @missjobaker, Hair: @giannandrea1 pic.twitter.com/JdSqmHgOns

— Sharon Stone (@sharonstone) May 4, 2019

When asked if there were any films she hated shooting, she said: "I loved doing most of my films. Hated? Well, I worked with a director on 'Basic Instinct 2' who asked me to sit on his lap each day to receive his direction, and when I refused he wouldn't shoot me.

"This went on for weeks. I had a two-week-old baby when this started. I can say we all hated that and I think the film reflects the quality of the atmosphere we all worked in. Most movies are written by men, made by men, created by men, and thought with a male mentality. 

"Never considering how women really are, how we think and how we feel. That's why a lot of my characters are drunk, addicted or crazy."

Bang Showbiz