Sharon Stone has revealed that she believes she connects with the spirits of the dead — 25 years after surviving a life-threatening stroke in 2001.
The 67-year-old actress, who suffered a severe brain hemorrhage and stroke, says her brush with death opened her up to what she describes as a “higher consciousness,” something that now influences her artwork.
Speaking to Extra, the Hollywood icon explained that in recent years — after losing several close family members in a short period of time — she began experiencing what she feels are spiritual communications while painting.
“I genuinely hear this higher consciousness speak to me,” she said, adding that when she creates portraits, it often feels as though the subjects are guiding her.
Stone, known for films like Basic Instinct and Casino, described her artistic process as deeply emotional. She said she feels honored when she believes a spirit has allowed her to “see their soul” in order to paint them. “Because I believe in universal consciousness, I feel like someone has allowed me into their awareness so I can create their portrait,” she shared.
One particularly powerful painting from her Rogues Gallery series, titled Him, left a lasting impact on her. Stone said the figure — whom she believes to be the spirit of an enslaved man who drowned aboard a ship — was initially reluctant to “open up.”
“When he finally started communicating, it was traumatic,” she explained, describing visions of the man chained in a ship’s hull and unable to escape as it sank. “Experiencing that through the painting was incredibly upsetting.”
The Euphoria actress also recently opened up about keeping her mother Dorothy’s death private for several months. Dorothy passed away in March 2025 at 91, but Stone waited until July to share the news publicly, saying she needed time to process her grief.
In an interview with The Guardian, Stone candidly described her complicated relationship with her mother, recalling her sharp wit and tough personality. She admitted her mother’s final days were marked by delirium and difficult exchanges, but emphasized that no one goes through life unscathed.
Earlier, Stone had honored her mother in an emotional social media tribute, calling her “hilarious” and “complex,” and urging people to protect and care for one another.
Reflecting on her upbringing, Stone has described her mother’s parenting style as strict but empowering. Speaking at the Zurich Film Festival, she remembered asking why she was never allowed to lean on her mother. The reply: she was taught to stand on her own two feet.
While the guidance once felt harsh, Stone says she eventually recognized it as a powerful gift — one that shaped her independence and resilience.
