Key Takeaways:
– Sharon Stone recently revealed her displeasure about working with William Baldwin in the 1993 film, “Sliver.”
– The actress regretted the absence of chemistry with co-star William Baldwin and wished his elder brother, Alec Baldwin, had been her co-star.
– Stone alleges that she was pressured by producer Robert Evans to sleep with William Baldwin to improve onscreen chemistry.
– Stone shared these revelations on The Louis Theroux Podcast.
More than thirty years have passed since the release of the 1993 erotic thriller “Sliver,” starring Sharon Stone and William Baldwin. But recent public revelations and controversy reveal the picture wasn’t a happy one on the set. Stone, known for starring in such erotic thrillers as “Basic Instinct,” sparked headlines following recent controversial allegations about her experience filming “Sliver.”
Stone Versus William Baldwin
Stone referred to William Baldwin as a “boy” and expressed dissatisfaction with his involvement in the film. She would have preferred the older and more accomplished Baldwin brother, Alec, to play her mysterious seducer in the film. Stone’s revelations came to light during her recent appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast.
During the interview, Stone confessed that she faced significant pressure while filming, largely due to her lack of chemistry with William Baldwin on and off screen. Producer Robert Evans allegedly tried to resolve this issue in an unusual way. He suggested that Stone should sleep with Baldwin to boost the onscreen chemistry and thus improve the film’s quality.
Pressure from the Producer
Stone quoted Evans during her interview, saying: “He was running around his office in his sunglasses explaining to me that he slept with Ava Gardner and I should sleep with Billy Baldwin. Because if I slept with Billy Baldwin, his performance would get better. We needed Billy to improve in the movie because that was the problem.”
The actress had touched on this issue in her 2021 memoir, “The Beauty of Living Twice,” but hadn’t named names. During her recent podcast appearance, however, she candidly shared her experiences and named those involved.
Stone Wished for Alec Baldwin
Bitter public feuds marked Stone’s relationship with William Baldwin even before she started filming “Sliver.” According to Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas’ book “American Rhapsody,” published by the New York Post, Stone never wanted Baldwin to portray her mysterious seducer in the film.
Stone’s preference was for William’s elder brother, Alec Baldwin, who was more recognized and acclaimed at that time. She confessed to fantasizing about having the “Rust” actor play her seductive co-star in the erotic thriller.
By the time of Sliver’s production, Alec Baldwin was transitioning into leading man roles in critically acclaimed films like “Working Girl,” “Married to the Mob,” and “Glengarry Glen Ross.” He was the actor Stone preferred to work with.
Amid these revelations and ensuing controversy, the question remains about whether the chemistry between Stone and Alec Baldwin could have saved “Sliver” from its box office failure. As it stands, however, the film continues to be available for a new generation of viewers on Prime Video and serves as a reminder of a moment in Hollywood history when boundaries blurred and pressure mounted on leading actresses like Stone.
