An episode with Sharon Stone

Sharon Stone attends the 75th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Photo / AP

Can you describe what it's like to be in the spotlight and then to be away from it?

When you live in a bright light, it's dark when it's not on you. There's no pretending that it's not; it's light and it's dark. There was a dark period in my life and it was a period that I chose because I thought that I couldn't take the light anymore. It is so bright when you are big star. Tom Cruise, Leo DiCaprio, everybody who stays in it ... frankly, I just don't know how they manage it. But now I can tell it's coming back. You can just sense it.

You're back with Mosaic - a very interesting role for you. You play such an accomplished woman yet she is very insecure. Do you relate to that?

Well, yeah. No matter how much we accomplish, we are working to not be considered second-class citizens. We are all trying to figure out in this long and interesting journey through time, how we can all consider each other of the same, value, whether we are men or women or whether our colour is different or our religious thoughts are different.

You're a mum of three boys - a very different time than when we were teenagers. What is your attitude towards sex when they ask you questions?

Well, my boys are 11, 12 and 17. So, I answer the questions they ask because I figure if they are asking, they are ready for an answer.

What do you tell them about dating girls?

I tell them, "You have to call them the next day and tell them that you enjoyed their company, and say thank you. You say, 'Whether we hang out again or not, I was happy to hang out with you.'" The other thing is that condoms must be used. I have discussed safe sex with my children since they were about 10, because I've worked for AMFAR [the American Foundation for Aids Research) for a very long time.

What shocks you about this generation?

Frankly, to see some of the texts that come across my kids' phones of girls half-naked, just shooting Snapchats of themselves. I mean, "Mums! Please, look in your kids' phones! Crack their codes and take a look!" It's astounding.

What are your thoughts about the #Meetoo movement?

We need to teach our pubescent men and women what's right and wrong. But we can't have this black-and-white scenario. We have to be thoughtful about what we are doing. I do believe that the movement is extraordinarily needed and valid, but we have to be women speaking out; we can't be handling it the way men handle things. We think in shades, we handle things. We are the people who can have dinner on the stove, iron a shirt, feed the kids, speak to the babysitter and get something for our husband at the same time. We don't think like men.

You're turning 60 soon. A pretty huge milestone - what do you know now that you didn't know at 40?

Well, I didn't know at 40 that you can't wipe away problems. I didn't know that you can't meet someone and fix them and that people are who they are.

In 2001, you suffered a stroke. Are you concerned about having another one?

I am not concerned about having another stroke, though my grandmother died of a stroke and my mother since has had a mini stroke. I am actually not. I have extremely natural low blood pressure and low cholesterol. I take care of myself and I am super-healthy, like kind of a hippie person. I don't do too many kooky activities although I do still ride horses, because I need to have one thing that is not taken away, one thing that I really love. I am going to play ice polo soon, which I think is probably a little extreme, but you know what? F*** it. I am just going to wear a helmet.

Do you feel you were destined to be famous?

When I went to Cannes [Film Festival] for Basic Instinct there was this weird moment when I was on the red carpet and the crowd started calling my name, and I was pushed forward. I had this wash of relief, almost. I knew it was part of what was going to happen . It was part of my life and I wasn't surprised by it.

Have you thought about writing an autobiography?

I have been doing that for about seven or eight years. But I keep coming at it from all these different angles. But stay tuned. It'll come.

Lowdown

Mosaic, six-part thriller, Fridays from January 26, 8.30pm, SoHo