Sharon Stone On Moving Beyond Her Sex-Symbol Era – And Her Take On Sydney Sweeney'S Controversial Novig Ad

Stone’s SoCal moment at Variety’s Power of Women

Red carpet and stage in Los Angeles

Sharon Stone lit up the red carpet in Los Angeles on September 23 at Variety’s Power of Women event, where the Basic Instinct alum gave interviews and addressed the crowd on stage. The actress looked back on how the industry once boxed her in and how she moved beyond that limited label – a journey she framed as part personal grit, part collective female strength.

"I refused to let one label tell the whole story of my life or my career; I kept moving forward and standing with other women while I did it,"

On labels, heels and resilience

Stone talked openly about how she wouldn’t allow a single image to define her. She described herself as someone who came out of that era and kept working across bold, career-defining moments without letting a tidy headline write her whole narrative. She credited the power she feels to other women standing beside her – a clear nod to the event’s mission and the solidarity often on display in L.A.’s awards-season circuit.

Her take on Sydney Sweeney’s Novig ad controversy

What Stone told PEOPLE

When PEOPLE asked Stone about her Euphoria co-star Sydney Sweeney’s Novig sports commercial, the 68-year-old kept a measured stance. Stone said it’s on Sweeney to accept responsibility for her choices and actions rather than for others to judge her – and that Stone sees her role as backing women who have fought their way to success in sports.

Context for the pushback

Sweeney, 29, who costarred with Stone in season 3 of Euphoria, faced criticism from female athletes after the Novig spot was viewed as nearly exposing too much. Stone acknowledged the controversy without piling on — emphasizing personal accountability and support for female athletes who have earned their place at the top of their fields.

Closing notes from the Power of Women stage

In her remarks, Stone painted her career as a progression away from simple labels toward a fuller, more complex identity. At an event meant to spotlight women’s achievements, her message landed as both personal reflection and a call to uplift women in all arenas, including sports and entertainment.