Sharon Stone Talks Women’s Rights And ‘Lovelace’ [Exclusive]

Being 20-something in Hollywood has its perks. For a 20-something actress in Hollywood, the roles are plenty, with meaty material in the form of multiple coming of age stories. There’s so few Meryl Streep’s that can hold on to quality work, and for some, aging out of Hollywood is a formality.

For Sharon Stone, making a comeback at 55-years-old, is a story worth telling all on its own. In Lovelace the star finds a comfort level that pushes the envelope of what’s expected from playing the typical mother role.

Stone is completely unrecognizable as Linda Lovelace’s mother, as she’s a far cry from anything we’ve seen her in before. With a new sense of experience under her belt, the deglamorized actress truly embodies a woman with a limited perspective in a world that’s slowly changing around her. As a staunch Catholic who has hovered over her daughter for years, Lovelace’s mother is both emotionally stunted and incredibly oppressed by the societal views of her upbringing.

Although Stone’s role is best described as a supporting, every time she appears on-screen is another view into why Linda’s life tragically spiraled from one horrible situation into another. She’s heartbreaking as an ignorant mother who only wants the best for her daughter, but has no idea how to educate Linda as she springs for liberation, and gets caught in the unthinkable.

Seeing Sharon Stone pull off this dichotomy in a tour-de-force performance is not only welcomed, it’s cherished.

The Inquisitr’s Niki Cruz attended a press conference where Sharon Stone spoke about motherhood, women’s rights and Linda Lovelace.

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THE INQUISITR: You really disappear into this role. It’s one of your best roles. Given the fact that so many people portrayed in this film are documented, you had the rare task of not having that information at your disposal to play Linda’s mother. How was that?

SHARON STONE: I was very fortunate to get this part from these brilliant and thoughtful directors. They came to me with a lot of material. There was some material online, but that’s only because I did some deep digging, and found material.

THE INQUISITR: Where did you go to create this character?

STONE: I grew up in that era and there were a lot of those kind of ladies where I grew up in Pennsylvania. It wasn’t that unusual to see working women in the 70s; women who worked in coffee shops, women who worked in diners. These women took care of their families, so it was a wonderful opportunity for me to play what this country is really based on, which is real hard-working women who are often single mothers trying to raise their kids.

THE INQUISITR: Where do you think your character is coming from as a parent?

STONE: She’s coming from misinformation, and lack of experience, and her own difficult and broken journey. One of the reasons why I took this part is that a mother is a key element in all of our lives. A mother is so tremendously important to us. Also women’s rights are so important and what Linda did by demonstrating that it’s not how you fall, it’s about how you get up, that’s what’s so valuable. Women’s rights are so important, and they’re in question right now. You see a mother in a time where women’s rights are not really clear, and when information for women isn’t really clear or on the table. You can see how desperately she needed that information, and how much it could have helped her.

THE INQUISITR: Because there was so many intense scenes, can you talk about anything that was going on in terms of hanging out to escape that intensity?

STONE: What I can say is that we were making this film fast so there wasn’t a lot of hanging out, but there was a tremendous support system. I can say that the great thing about playing a mother to such a wonderful young actress, is that being a mother you bring that to the set. Seeing a young actress coming to work and giving it her all and moving into such a complex performance, it’s wonderful to see happening with this directing team. To see this intelligent, thoughtful, prepared, amazing guidance happening for all of us was great. When you can work in a fast environment that isn’t a high budget, but when it’s so together, it’s such a gift. The downtime felt really supportive because of that.

THE INQUISITR: What’s your opinion on the reconciliation scene between Linda and her mother? Do you think she deserved that forgiveness?

STONE: Being a parent, and also having wonderful parents myself, I can say that whatever happens with your children they never stop being your children. You love them. You may not always like them. You may not always agree with the choices that they make, but I don’t think we ever stop loving our children, or ever stop hoping that they will find their true north. When your child finds the best of themselves and does want you to help with that journey, I think the very best thing you can do is give them yourself. That’s our job. That’s our journey. That’s the thing we accept when we agree to be a parent. As for the reconciliation, from my personal point of view, I would say yes, and resoundingly so.

LOVELACE HITS THEATERS FRIDAY, AUGUST 9.

[Image credit: Second image / Niki Cruz]