Sharon Stone says she was treated in a “brutally unkind” way by Hollywood and the public after surviving a life-threatening brain aneurysm. In 2001, the star underwent surgery after being hospitalized from a stroke.
The ensuing recovery put the now 61-year-old actress’ career and life on hold while she relearned how to do basic things like walk, talk and write — all while battling for custody of her child. Since then, she’s bounced back to become an advocate for brain-aging diseases that disproportionately affect women.
Now that the star has fully recovered, she’s looking back and getting candid about those that mistreated or ignored her during her time of need.
“People treated me in a way that was brutally unkind,” she saif at an event she hosted to raise awareness for Women’s Brain Health initiatives. “From other women in my own business to the female judge who handled my custody case, I don’t think anyone grasps how dangerous a stroke is for women and what it takes to recover — it took me about seven years.”
Stone thanked those who helped her get back on her feet in show business. However, she believes her life after the stroke is a far cry from where it was headed beforehand, which the actress noted while comparing herself to Princess Diana.
“I had to remortgage my house. I lost everything I had. I lost my place in the business. I was like the hottest movie star, you know?” she explained. “It was like Miss Princess Diana and I were so famous — and she died and I had a stroke. And we were forgotten.”
