Sharon Stone reflects on life after financial struggles and 7-year recovery from near-fatal brain bleed
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA: Sharon Stone opened up on her idea of embracing life in the face of immense challenges.
At the 2025 Golden Globes, Stone shared that she had been carrying this positive perspective since a near-fatal brain hemorrhage 24 years ago that changed her life forever.
“I think you get to choose how you view the world, and I choose to be happy, which I think is a discipline," the 65-year-old actress told Fox News Digital.
Sharon Stone's near-death experience
Sharon Stone, known for her iconic roles in the 1990s hits 'Basic Instinct' and 'Casino', offered emotional advice to her younger self in a BBC News interview in December 2024.
“You’re going to make it. I would have wanted to know that so many times,” she said through tears.
She recalled moments of uncertainty, including when she read in People magazine that doctors would not know for 30 days if she would live or die.
Stone’s 2001 brain hemorrhage marked a turning point in her life and career.
In an appearance on the UK’s 'Good Morning Britain', she recounted her near-death experience, sharing how doctors initially missed the severity of her condition.
“I continued to bleed into my brain for nine days before my best friend convinced [the doctors] to look again,” she said.
“Thank God they did, because they were able to repair it at the last moment,” the actress recalled.
The ordeal left her with an invisible disability and a drastically altered perspective.
Despite these health struggles, she found solace in what she called a “beautiful miracle."
"Of course, I'm a different person," she shared.
"People can help you when they see you are walking with crutches, but when you are having a bit of a problem with brain function, people don’t know that you need help with that," Stone explained.
Sharon Stone's journey from stardom to advocacy
After her recovery, Sharon Stone’s career took a backseat to her activism as she dedicated herself to global causes, working with the World Health Organization and the United Nations.
“I haven’t had jobs,” she admitted during the 'Raising Our Voices' luncheon in 2023.
“Something went wrong with me: I’ve been out for 20 years,” she shared.
The brain hemorrhage led to a seven-year recovery period, which significantly impacted her Hollywood career.
“In seven years, you’re no longer the flavor of the time. People don’t really care about that person anymore,” she explained.
Despite feeling abandoned by the industry, Stone redirected her energy toward advocating for diversity and inclusion, speaking out against what she called the “anti-woke” movement.
