Sharon Stone Reveals the Only Two Co-Stars She Calls “Non-Misogynistic”

Sharon Stone has been in Hollywood for decades, but she says respect on set has been rare. In a recent interview with Variety, the actress shared that in her long career she has only worked with two male co-stars who she considered “not misogynistic,” Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci.

Stone, who became a global star after her breakout role in Paul Verhoeven’s 1992 thriller Basic Instinct, has long been a target of sexism in the industry.

Her most infamous moment came from the film’s interrogation scene, where her character uncrosses her legs. The brief but controversial shot exposed her without underwear, something Stone has said she was not warned about before filming. Verhoeven denies her account, but the scene cemented her image as a femme fatale and also made her a lightning rod for misogyny in Hollywood.

She went on to deliver one of her most acclaimed performances in Martin Scorsese’s Casino (1995), playing Ginger McKenna opposite De Niro and Pesci.

For Stone, that experience stood out because of the respect she received from both actors. “They’re so misogynistic — now, that is not Robert De Niro. That is not Joe Pesci, that is not those guys,” she told Variety.

Stone contrasted that with other sets where male co-stars disrespected her work. “I’ve worked with some of the biggest stars in the business, who will literally talk through my close-up, telling me what they think I should do,” she explained.

She described how actors would ignore her performance, refusing to listen or react naturally. “That’s not great acting. I mean, I get that you’re great, and everybody thinks you’re wonderful. But listening, being present for those fractured moments is really the human experience.”

Her comments also highlight what many now call “mansplaining.” Stone recalled times when men gave her acting advice she never asked for, often in a patronizing way. This behavior, she said, made it hard for her to give her best performances, as her co-stars would not let her influence their own acting.

Stone’s career has often been shaped by her image, especially in the 1990s, when she was typecast into hyper-sexualized roles.

While she delivered strong performances, she has admitted that the attention often overshadowed her craft and invited dismissive treatment from her peers. That’s why her experience on Casino, being treated as an equal by De Niro and Pesci, remains such a rare and meaningful memory for her.

It is striking that an actress of Stone’s stature, with decades of acclaimed work, can only point to two men in her long career who showed her full respect on set. It speaks to the broader culture of sexism that has defined Hollywood for generations.

Do you think Hollywood has improved when it comes to respecting women on set, or do stories like Sharon Stone’s show that change is still too slow? Share your thoughts in the comments.