Leonardo DiCaprio recently shared his profound gratitude towards Sharon Stone, acknowledging the pivotal role she played in kickstarting his career. In her 2021 memoir, “The Beauty of Living Twice,” Stone revealed her unwavering determination to cast DiCaprio in the 1995 revisionist Western film “The Quick and the Dead,” directed by Sam Raimi.
Despite resistance from the movie studio, Stone insisted on DiCaprio’s casting and even covered his salary out of her own pocket. In a recent interview with E! News, the 49-year-old actor expressed his deep appreciation, saying, “I’ve thanked her many times. I don’t know if I sent her an actual, physical thank-you gift, but I cannot thank her enough.”
Recalling Stone’s foresight, DiCaprio shared, “She did that with Russell Crowe and me at the time. I think she saw our early work, and I think it was ‘Romper Stomper’ and ‘Gilbert Grape.’” DiCaprio earned his first Academy Award nomination at 19 for “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” while Crowe gained acclaim for “Romper Stomper.”
Stone, a producer on “The Quick and the Dead,” had identified DiCaprio as the standout choice after auditioning numerous teenage actors. Despite skepticism from the studio, Stone stood her ground, with executives challenging her decision, asking, “Why an unknown, Sharon?”
Addressing the situation on Instagram, Stone clarified that she covered DiCaprio’s salary but not Crowe’s. She also disclosed her efforts to secure Crowe’s involvement, delaying the film for two weeks to accommodate the actor’s schedule.
Crowe, in a 2020 interview, credited Stone with being instrumental in launching his Hollywood career. He highlighted her determination in the face of opposition from male producers.
“The Quick and the Dead” marked a turning point for both DiCaprio and Crowe, with the former skyrocketing to fame in “Titanic” and the latter achieving success in “L.A. Confidential” and winning an Oscar for “Gladiator.”
Reflecting on the challenges of being an actress-producer, Stone, who received her first producer credit for the film, noted in her memoir, “Getting a producer credit as an actress is often thought of in my business as a ‘vanity deal.’ I won’t accept a vanity deal and let them know that upfront. This is illegal, I say, and I like to work within the law.” Despite the hurdles, Stone has gone on to produce over a dozen projects, showcasing her resilience and commitment to breaking industry norms.
