Sharon Stone

She attended Edinboro State University of Pennsylvania where she majored in creative writing and fine arts in the 1970s on a writing scholarship, but left the school before graduating to pursue a modeling career. However, she was later awarded a honorary Doctorate in Philosophy in public service by the school in 2007.

Won the Miss Crawford County (Pennsylvania) beauty pageant and was also queen of her high school's spring festival (1975).

Felt offended when Gwyneth Paltrow portrayed her on "Saturday Night Live" (1975) (1999).

Moved to New York City (1977).

Auditioned for the Cathy Moriarty role in Raging Bull (1980).

Met her close friend Mimi Craven on the set of Deadly Blessing (1981). They subsequently worked together on the film Last Dance (1996) in 1996.

Appeared as spokesmodel contestant on the pilot for the syndicated series "Star Search" (1983); won the competition (1983).

Was considered for the role of Lana in Risky Business (1983).

Said that Rock Hudson was instrumental in helping her build up her confidence and skills as an actress early in her career (in the TV-movie The Vegas Strip War (1984) (TV)). She also became good friends with Hudson and became a lifelong crusader for AIDS research due to her friendship with him.

Auditioned for the role of Alex in Fatal Attraction (1987).

Auditioned for the role of Vicki Vale in Batman (1989).

Auditioned for the role of Breathless Mahoney in Dick Tracy (1990).

During Total Recall (1990) filming, she complained to director Paul Verhoeven that she wasn't sure whether her character really was married to Doug.

One of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People." [1992]

One of People Magazine's "25 Most Intriguing People" of 1992.

Her famous "leg crossing" scene in Basic Instinct (1992) was voted "Sexiest Leg Moment on Screen" in a poll for Veet.

Appeared as one of the celebrity models in a charity fashion show staged by Thierry Mugler to benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles. [April 1992]

Engaged to producer William J. MacDonald. [1993-1994]

Turned down the role in Exit to Eden (1994) that later went to Rosie O'Donnell.

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the "100 Sexiest Stars in Film History" (#49). [1995]

Spent many long workdays in agony while filming scenes for Casino (1995). She has back trouble due to an old injury, and the gold and white beaded gown she wore during a casino scene weighed 45 pounds.

Received the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters from the French government in 1995.

A sex scene in The Quick and the Dead (1995) between Ellen (Stone) and Cort (Russell Crowe) was shot, but Stone and director Sam Raimi decided that it wasn't a necessary part of the story. The scene was not included in the American release of the film, but international versions do include it.

For her role on The Quick and the Dead (1995), she was trained by renowned Hollywood Gun Coach Thell Reed, who has also trained such actors as: Russell Crowe, Val Kilmer, Edward Norton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Foster and Girard Swan.

Auditioned for the role of Crystal Connors in Showgirls (1995).

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995.

Ranked #77 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

Is a close friend of Jeanne Moreau. Presented a 1998 American Academy of Motion Pictures life tribute to her.

Playboy Magazine's "100 Sexiest Stars of the Century," Number 24. [1999]

Sharon and husband Phil Bronstein, a newspaperman, adopted a child they named Roan Joseph Bronstein, born 22 May 2000 in Texas. He weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces, and was adopted by Stone and Bronstein a week after birth. His first name is Celtic for "seal" and his middle name is a tribute to Stone's father. [July 2000]

Received a humanitarian award from the Human Rights Campaign, a well-funded organization specializing in gay and lesbian rights, for her role in If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000) (TV), in which she plays the lover to Ellen DeGeneres, with whom she wants to raise a child. [2000]

Stone's former housekeeper Socorro Del Carmen Membreno pleaded not guilty to grand theft of $300,000 worth of jewelry and other valuables from Stone's L.A. home two months earlier. [2 March 2000]

Son, Roan Joseph Bronstein, born May 22, 2000 (adopted).

Suffered a brain aneurysm and was hospitalized for a while. [October 2001]

Sharon was granted a restraining order against Agostino P'omata, who allegedly had made threats of violence against her. [27 March 2001]

June 11, 2001: her husband, Phil Bronstein, underwent foot surgery after being attacked by a Komodo dragon during a private tour of the Los Angeles Zoo. The tour was arranged by Stone as a Father's Day gift for Bronstein, who had always wanted to see one of the Indonesian lizards up close. The attack occurred after Bronstein had removed his white shoes. Zookeepers later speculated the 5-foot-long lizard may have mistaken the shoes for white rats it ate regularly.

Member of the Jury at Cannes Festival in 2002, alongside David Lynch, Christine Hakim, Claude Miller, Michelle Yeoh, Raoul Ruiz, Régis Wargnier, Walter Salles and William August (full-length films category).

She passionately kissed fan Joni Rimm for charity after she paid $50,000 for the pleasure. She auctioned the kiss in aid of Project Angel Food, a Los Angeles charity providing meals for homeless people. (August 12, 2003).

Created Officer in France's Order of Arts and Letters by Festival President Gilles Jacob, 20 May 2005, on the sidelines of the 58th edition of the Cannes International Film Festival.

January 28, 2005, World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland - At the end of the debate on "funding the war on poverty", she stood up and pledged $10,000 and asked people to follow her. Within five minutes they raised nearly $100,000 - she wanted to raise at least one million. It's money that will go directly to the Global Fund to Fight Aids Tuberculosis and Malaria - to buy bed nets to stop deaths from malaria in the developing world.

A dedicated fund-raiser and advocate for AIDS research for the past 10 years, she received the Harvard Foundation's 2005 Humanitarian Award at the Memorial Church. Her friend, Rock Hudson, died from AIDS. [14 March 2005]

Good friends with singer Christina Aguilera and attended Aguilera's November 19, 2005 wedding to music producer Jordan Bratman in Napa Valley, California.

Son, Laird Vonne Stone, was born May 7, 2005 (adopted).

Chosen by Australian men magazine Zoo weekly as one of the "Top 50 Hottest Babes Ever". [March 2006]

Son, Quinn Kelly Stone, born June 8, 2006 (adopted).

Ranked #11 in Men's Health 100 Hottest Women of All Time (2011).