Why Sharon Stone Wasn't Comfortable Filming With Michael Douglas

In 1992, Paul Verhoeven's film "Basic Instinct" hit the big screen. The erotic thriller centers on the seductive writer Catherine Tramell, portrayed by Sharon Stone, who becomes the prime suspect in a rockstar's brutal murder. She develops a hot-and-heavy relationship with homicide detective Nick Curran, played by Michael Douglas. With its unbridled sexuality and iconic leg-crossing scene, the film generated considerable buzz. Following the film's release, Stone even parodied the widely talked about moment in various television appearances.

In March, Douglas celebrated the 30th anniversary of "Basic Instinct" on Instagram, writing, "What a ride that one was and a little controversy along the way. Kudos to #PaulVerhoeven, @sharonstone and @jeannetripplehorn! Very fond memories!" Stone echoed the sentiment in her own Instagram post, writing, "Thank you to @michaelkirkdouglas #PaulVerhoeven @studiocanal for all the great memories." Although the two actors remembered their on-set experiences fondly, there's actually more to the story. 

Back in 1992, Stone wasn't entirely comfortable filming with Douglas for this surprising reason.

In a 1992 interview with Playboy, Sharon Stone revealed that she didn't feel comfortable filming with Michael Douglas. But, as she noted, "I think that kind of discomfort lends itself to this kind of movie. Tension is good." So, what was the source of that discomfort? Fortunately, it wasn't anything Douglas actually did to invoke that feeling. The details are quite mystical, with Stone explaining, "If one were to believe in karma, I would say there is some karmic circle yet unfulfilled between the two of us." When asked if she felt a bond with Douglas after filming, Stone revealed, "I do. But I basically didn't get to know Michael." She reiterated how not knowing one another actually helped their on-screen dynamic, adding, "It's odd because now I have this very intimate bond with a stranger."

But there may be another reason for Stone's discomfort, as the actor was somewhat starstruck by Douglas. She told InStyle, "For the longest time, I was certain they were going to recast me with someone else, because how could I possibly star opposite Michael Douglas? I thought maybe I was just a placeholder." For her screen-test with Douglas, Stone told Playboy, "I'm always nervous around people like that. Michael's a big movie star. He didn't need me."

Michael Douglas wasn't the only person who made Sharon Stone feel uncomfortable on the set of "Basic Instinct." While she ultimately considered her discomfort with Michael Douglas as a positive, the same can't be said about director Paul Verhoeven. In a Vanity Fair excerpt from her memoir, "The Beauty of Living Twice" (via Today), Stone detailed the misleading experience of shooting her revealing interrogation scene. She explained, "That was how I saw my vagina-shot for the first time, long after I'd been told, 'We can't see anything — I just need you to remove your panties, as the white is reflecting the light, so we know you have panties on." Following the film's screening, she said that she slapped Verhoeven "across the face" and spoke with her lawyer, who told her it wasn't "legal to shoot up my dress in this fashion."

However, Verhoeven recalled a different experience than Stone. In an article by Empire, Verhoeven asserted that Stone was aware of what was happening. He claimed, "You cannot do that shot without somebody knowing. On top of that, she gave me her panties as a gesture of confidence." He also downplayed the risque moment, saying, "You would have to use a microscope to really know what you saw." As far as Stone is concerned, that claim doesn't exactly excuse the situation.