Actress Sharon Stone has publicly criticized the script of her 1993 erotic thriller Sliver, labeling its dialogue as “terrible.” The comments come shortly after her co-star Billy Baldwin stated he would “never” work with Stone again, citing on-set tensions during the film’s production.
Stone Reflects on ‘Sliver’ Script
During a segment for Variety titled “Does Sharon Know Her Lines?” Stone was presented with lines from her past films to identify. When read a particularly suggestive line – “You’ve been spending too much time with your vibrator” – Stone expressed surprise and dismay.
“God, I don’t remember saying that. Or thinking that,” Stone remarked. Initially, she misidentified the film, guessing it was from her 1998 movie Sphere. Upon correction, she identified the line as belonging to Sliver, the film set within an apartment building.
Stone revealed the extent of her dissatisfaction, stating, “I made a rule that no one was allowed to even say that word for years.” She attributed the poor quality of the writing to its author, suggesting it was “Clearly written by a man without enough to do.” The screenplay for Sliver was penned by Joe Eszterhas, who also famously wrote Stone’s breakthrough hit Basic Instinct.
Background of the Film ‘Sliver’
Sliver, released in 1993, stars Sharon Stone as Carly Norris, a woman who moves into a luxurious apartment building. Her new home becomes a source of dread as she discovers that previous female tenants have met untimely deaths. Amidst her investigation into the building’s dark secrets, Carly begins a passionate affair with the building’s owner, Zeke Hawkins, played by Billy Baldwin. However, she soon suspects that Hawkins himself might be the killer.
Billy Baldwin’s On-Set Recollections
The resurfacing of discussions around Sliver coincides with recent remarks made by Billy Baldwin. In an interview on the “Lisa Guerrero Unleashed” podcast earlier this month, Baldwin, 63, described a difficult working relationship with Stone, 68. He claimed that “tension” between them made the cast and crew “miserable” for much of the filming.
Baldwin recounted that while their initial interactions were cordial, Stone allegedly ceased speaking to him for the remainder of the production. “She wouldn’t say ‘hello’ or ‘goodbye’ to me for the next three months,” he stated.
The actor further revealed that the alleged animosity led him to approach producers with a request to avoid a kissing scene with Stone. “I can do the scene but just please don’t make me kiss her….I can’t kiss her,” Baldwin recalled telling them. He suggested that this request influenced the staging of a subsequent intimate scene, which was reportedly filmed with the characters having sex against a pillar.
Conflicting Accounts of Producer’s Suggestion
Adding another layer to the behind-the-scenes drama, Stone addressed a controversial suggestion made by producer Robert Evans in her 2021 memoir, The Beauty of Living Twice. According to Stone, Evans proposed that she and Billy Baldwin engage in sexual activity off-camera to alleviate their on-set tension and enhance their on-screen chemistry.
However, Billy Baldwin has offered a different perspective on Evans’s alleged remarks. Speaking to Guerrero, Baldwin refuted the idea that Evans’s suggestion was specifically about acting. Instead, he claimed Evans cited “incredibly bad tension” and “pent-up sexual energy” as the issue, urging them to “just do it and get it over with” to resolve the reported friction.
Baldwin’s Praise for Stone’s Screen Presence
Despite the reported difficulties, Billy Baldwin acknowledged Sharon Stone’s powerful screen presence. He referenced her iconic performance in Basic Instinct, noting her “incredibly powerful – 11 out of 10 – screen presence.” Baldwin added, “Sharon Stone on screen, whether she’s crossing and uncrossing her legs or not, Sharon Stone on screen has got awesome screen presence.”
Looking back, Baldwin expressed a desire to reconcile, stating he would “love to bury the hatchet” with Stone and would be open to shaking her hand or offering a hug.
Conclusion
Sharon Stone’s recent critique of Sliver‘s dialogue highlights lingering dissatisfaction with the film, while Billy Baldwin’s comments bring renewed attention to the challenging production environment. Despite the reported on-set conflicts, Baldwin ultimately recognized Stone’s significant talent and enduring screen appeal.
