Sharon Stone, 66, wants her 'acting career back' more than 20 years after suffering stroke

As Sharon Stone looks back on her life-altering stroke, she's ready for a career second act.

The Academy Award nominee, 66, opened up about how her 2001 health episode had a lasting impact on her acting work as she spoke to The Times.  

'I still don't have my acting career back,' she said. 'I would really like to work again as an actor so much … not just a weak, supporting, bull**** part.

'I'd like to really have the parts that I have earned and can do. I would really like to have my own real career back. I would really like to have my life back,' added Stone.

She noted that the doctors gave her a one percent chance of survival after she suffered the massive brain hemorrhage.  

Sharon Stone opened up about how her 2001 health episode had a lasting impact on her acting work as she spoke to The Times; seen in April 2024

'I still don't have my acting career back,' she said. 'I would really like to work again as an actor so much … not just a weak, supporting, bull**** part; Stone seen in 2001

Stone previously said she hasn't worked on any 'substantial ' films since her Oscar-nominated performance in 1995's Casino (pictured)

'I pretty much realized it was serious when I came to on the floor and I couldn't get up and I kept calling for help and I couldn't get it,' recalled Stone. 'I thought: "I'm having a stroke." 

'I couldn't walk. I couldn't talk. I couldn't read. I couldn't write my own name. I was stuttering. When I reached for something, I had no depth perception. It was complete psychological chaos,' she explained.

Although she's hungry for more acting roles, Stone said it would be 'very simplistic and reductive' to consider this her reincarnation.

'Because it took seven years to really recover and I did lose custody of my child,' she said. 'And I did lose my career and I did lose $15 million — every cent I had — in child support and court fees … So I didn't really bounce back and have a rebirth.'

Stone continued, 'I would really like to have my life back. I didn't rebound and it isn't some kind of wonderful story. It'd be great if it was, but it isn't. I survived.'

The Basic Instinct star previously said it 'sort of hurt that the world moved on without me,' adding: 'But I've kind of gotten over it now.' 

She said her 'real first step of recovery' took about seven years, which was 'a long time to lose your momentum.' 

'In seven years, you're no longer the flavor of the time, you no longer have box office heat, the same people you were working with are no longer in power anymore,' she said this month on Good Morning Britain.

'Everything changes and people don't really care about that person anymore,' Stone continued. 'It's like going back to your old job seven years later, you don't just walk back into your job and think nothing's changed.'

She noted that the doctors gave her a one percent chance of survival after she suffered the massive brain hemorrhage; seen in March 2024 

'I pretty much realized it was serious when I came to on the floor and I couldn't get up and I kept calling for help and I couldn't get it,' recalled Stone. 'I thought: "I'm having a stroke"; seen in June 2001

She noted that the doctors gave her a one percent chance of survival after she suffered the massive brain hemorrhage

Stone continued, 'I would really like to have my life back. I didn't rebound and it isn't some kind of wonderful story. It'd be great if it was, but it isn't. I survived'

In recent years, the actress has turned to painting, converting a room in her mansion into a studio during the pandemic

Stone previously said she hasn't worked on any 'substantial' films since her Oscar-nominated performance in 1995's Casino.

'I was shocked that I didn't get to continue to work well, I did everything to be my very best,' she told The Guardian in March while raving about working with Robert De Niro.

In recent years, the actress has turned to painting, converting a room in her mansion into a studio during the pandemic.

Last month, Stone showed some of her work at Gallery 181 in San Francisco.