Sharon Stone Tells All About 'Ratched'

What was it like having Pablo the monkey as a scene partner?

I just wish that I could go with Jane Goodall — who I've become acquaintances with — into the wild and learn more, because the experience that I had with this monkey made me much more present as an actor. The monkey would react to everything that I was saying. I would tell the monkey, “Don't do that. Here's what the scene is about.” We had one scene where the monkey was supposed to be not too bad, but I'd tell him that he could be as bad as he wanted to be. “Just be a stinker!” We had the greatest time. This monkey has the best comedic timing. He was in Pirates of the Caribbean and quite a few other things.

And how was it to work with your eminent human costars — including Cynthia Nixon, Amanda Plummer, Sophie Okonedo, Corey Stoll, Vincent D'Onofrio and Judy Davis?

So many of the brave steps that I've taken in my own career were based on things that Judy Davis did. When I was going to do Basic Instinct, I watched Impromptu about a thousand times. I kept thinking that if she could play George Sand, if she could lay under that piano where Hugh Grant was Chopin, if she could play these kinds of parts, if she could be so brave — I could be brave, too. For such an incredibly reserved and shy woman, she is such an extraordinarily brave actress. She really inspires me.

What were women up against in 1947?

We had Rosie the Riveter working in the factories while the men went away to war. When the men came back, were they then given all those rights that they actually earned? No. Until these things become written laws, they're not going to become the foundation that we stand on. They're still written in sand.

What was it like to work with Sarah Paulson, who produced Ratched?

She's so on time for an era where women are actually allowed to do something. In my era, we were given a lot of false things in our contract, approvals of this person, approvals of your directors, approvals of this or that, but they weren't real. It was what they call a vanity deal. You didn't have anything. Sarah is a young woman coming into the full flesh of her stardom, and Ryan is the kind of producer who is actually respecting her deal. We've become great friends.

What are you excited for viewers to experience with Ratched?

If you're into architecture, cars, costumes, sets, jewelry, great actors, then this is your show!

MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images

Sharon Stone's Playlist

This playlist was made from my own music library, collected over many years, from the time I used to do this on cassettes until today. Thanks for listening.

I wanted to make a COVID-19 playlist, with a couple of love songs and a couple of “f-u” songs, since that is how we are all feeling.

LTZGOCRZY/2020SUMMER is made with love. Hope it gives you some fun and some happy memories and the knowledge that I am with you, heart and soul! 

Love,

Sharon