Actor Billy Baldwin stated that he would not want to work with Sharon Stone again after experiencing severe tension while filming the 1993 movie Sliver.
Speaking during an interview on the Lisa Guerrero Unleashed vidcast on Tuesday, September 8, Baldwin named the 68-year-old actress as the top person he would avoid partnering with for a second film project.
Baldwin described the filming of the thriller as a miserable experience for the entire cast and production crew. He said that while the two co-stars got along quite well during the initial two weeks of shooting, Stone stopped saying hello or goodbye to him for the remaining three months of production.
The atmosphere on set became so uncomfortable that Baldwin approached the film's producers to request changes to a romantic scene. He recalled asking them to spare him from kissing Stone, telling them he was willing to perform the scene but could not bring himself to kiss her.
As a result of his request, the scene was adapted so that their characters, Zeke Hawkins and Carly Norris, ultimately made love while leaning against a column instead of kissing.
Behind the Scenes Controversy
The conflict between the two actors previously surfaced in Stone's memoir, The Beauty of Living Twice. In the book, Stone claimed that producer Robert Evans suggested she should have sex with Baldwin off camera to reduce on-set friction and improve his acting performance, an allegation Baldwin rejected.
During the vidcast appearance, Baldwin stated that Evans had made the exact same suggestion directly to him. He explained that Evans was not evaluating their acting capabilities, but was instead responding to continuous reports of terrible tension between the lead performers. Baldwin recalled that Evans described the situation as pent-up sexual energy and instructed them to simply engage in sex to get the matter over with.
Praise and Hopes for Reconciliation
Despite his negative memories of the production, Baldwin expressed strong admiration for Stone's acting talent and screen presence. He highlighted her famous performance in the 1992 thriller Basic Instinct, giving her presence an 11 out of 10 rating and stating that she commands extraordinary power on screen regardless of whether she is crossing or uncrossing her legs.
Both performers were major figures in 1990s Hollywood cinema. Stone achieved international fame following her role in Basic Instinct, while Baldwin starred in high-profile films throughout the decade. Their 1993 collaboration in Sliver was designed as a high-profile studio release following the commercial success of contemporary erotic thrillers.
Concluding his comments, Baldwin indicated a desire to put an end to the long-running feud between them. He expressed a wish for the ongoing war with Stone to cease, saying he would welcome the opportunity to shake her hand or offer her a hug.
