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Sharon Stone reflected on moving beyond her image as a “sex symbol” in Hollywood while accepting an award for her philanthropic work and advocacy for women’s rights at Variety’s Power of Women event Wednesday.
The iconic actress — who rose to fame in the 1992 erotic thriller “Basic Instinct” — stopped to chat with Page Six on the red carpet ahead of the star-studded ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.
“I think that it’s very important to recognize that we are all women of power and influence, because women, by the very fact of being a woman, [are] powerful and influential,” she told us.
Stone, 68, pointed toward the everyday decisions women make at home — everything from raising their children, to decor and food choices.
“It’s a woman who makes all of the basic day-to-day choices in the world,” the “Casino” star stated. “I think it’s really important to think about that. That is very powerful and very influential.”
Stone urged women to “use that power and influence in a compassionate, thoughtful, meaningful way, and in ways that take care of each other.”
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Inside the ceremony, the “Silver” star highlighted her work with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a non-profit founded to preserve individual rights as stated in the US Constitution.
“I am a product of the American dream,” she told the crowd, referring to her father, Joseph William, who was a Pennsylvanian factory worker born into financial hardship.
“I have gone the distance from being a sex symbol … and I did it by keeping both of these tired feet that hurt from wearing four-inch heels on poured concrete floors.”
“I kept them firmly planted on terra firma because there is no gray in the red, white and blue,” Stone added. “So the power that I feel in the power of women, I get because I am standing in the middle of you, and I do not stand alone when I stand here.”
Stone was among several women in entertainment honored at the ceremony for their advocacy and philanthropy.
Entertainment leader Pearlena Igbokwe received recognition for her work with A Better Chance — a nonprofit that helps students of color gain admission into prestigious high schools and increase their access to colleges.
Queen Latifah introduced Igbokwe, who oversees NBC Entertainment and leads the teams in charge of several hit shows, including “Saturday Night Live” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
“My origin story started with hard work, but someone had to give me an opportunity,” the businesswoman said in her acceptance speech. “No one achieves anything alone.”
Singer Jennifer Hudson, 45, was honored for The Jennifer Hudson Foundation, which supports organizations improving the quality of life of those in need.
“Our mission was always to highlight and accentuate the positive, and that is what we strive to do at ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’ each and every day,” Hudson told the audience.
The TV personality then reflected, “That brings me to power.”
“Power is an interesting idea,” she said. “I think we’ve been taught to shy away from embracing power. We are told to be strong, never told to be powerful. But power can be good, and in the right hands, power can change the world for the better. And what better hands than those of a woman?”
Hudson and several producers also took the stage to receive a separate award, the Variety Changemaker Award, for “The Jennifer Hudson Show.”
Actress Melissa McCarthy, 56, was recognized for her work with the Joyful Heart Foundation, dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic abuse.
The comedian was introduced and presented the award by her “Gilmore Girls” co-star Lauren Graham, who gushed over meeting McCarthy while playing on-screen best friends Lorelai Gilmore and Sookie St. James, respectively, in the early 2000s series.
“I met Melissa playing her pretend friend on ‘Gilmore Girls,’ and we got to become friends in real life,” Graham, 59, told the audience, explaining that she and McCarthy have remained close over the years and adopted odd holiday traditions.
“Among the many festivities we shared over the years was the tradition of taking turns throwing a cowboy-themed Christmas party,” she said.
“I don’t know why this was the theme. Neither of us was from the South, and I don’t know any cowboys, but I still have a 10-gallon hat in my closet and photos of the Christmas where we hired a band called Cousin Lovers to play in my living room.”
“Summer House” alum Paige DeSorbo, 33, was awarded the Variety Courage Award presented by Purina’s Purple Leash Project, an initiative to make shelters for domestic abuse survivors pet-friendly, for her advocacy for domestic violence survivors.
The TV personality delivered an emotional speech regarding her decision to open up about a past abusive relationship during a 2024 episode of her beloved podcast, “Giggly Squad.” She was around 19 at the time of the abuse.
“When you’re that young and you’re in a situation like that, you don’t necessarily have the perspective or the language to understand what’s happening,” DeSorbo said.
“You just know that something is wrong, but you’re living inside it, so it becomes your normal. I think a lot of us walk around assuming abuse looks a certain way, that it happens to a certain kind of person, in a certain kind of relationship. But that’s simply not true.”
Issa Rae, 41, was presented the Variety Entertainment Entrepreneur of the Year Award by US Bank, though the “Insecure” creator admitted she didn’t feel worthy enough to accept it.
Referring to the current political climate in the US, the actress said, “It’s hard to feel inspired when you feel helpless and useless.”
Rae, however, changed her tone, saying she can focus on what she can control.
“I can decide who I’m around, who I work with, who I champion, who I invest in, whose stories I tell, who I platform, who I respond to,” she said.
“I can use the power I do have to pour into my little community to make sure whatever success I’m lucky enough to have doesn’t stop with me.”
The “Barbie” star continued, “Maybe that’s all any of us can do — is just figure out where we have some power and use it the f–k for good, please. So that’s what I’m going to do. I hope you guys do too.”
Aside from her acting credits, Rae is also the owner of HOORAE media, which is responsible for the HBO shows, “Insecure,” “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Rap Sh!t” and “Sweet Life: Los Angeles.”
Several celebrities, including “Legally Blonde” star Selma Blair, who attended the A-list event with her dog, and “Step Up” star Jenna Dewan, proudly cheered for the honorees and attentively listened to their speeches.
The duo, along with “DWTS” pro Rylee Arnold, podcaster Morgan Stewart, media personality Tisha Campbell, and “Scrubs” alum Judy Reyes, also joined the festivities and were blown away by many surprises, including a breathtaking rendition of the late Dolly Parton’s 1974 track “I Will Always Love You” by Hudson.
The big night was hosted by comedian Iliza Shlesinger, who had attendees laughing throughout the night.
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