Sharon Stone had a significant role in Hollywood history when she celebrated Leonardo DiCaprio’s 18th birthday. In a recent cover story for InStyle, Stone, who is now 65 years old, reminisced about their time working together on the film “The Quick and the Dead” in 1995. At that time, DiCaprio was still a teenager and had already achieved success with films like “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” in 1993.
“The Quick and the Dead” was a milestone for Stone as it was her first film where she served as both an actress and a producer. She even negotiated a $3 million salary to star alongside Gene Hackman in this Western movie, where she portrayed an 18th-century woman seeking revenge for her father’s murder.
Stone played a crucial role in casting DiCaprio as Hackman’s character’s son in the film. She recognized his potential as a superstar when she saw his audition. Interestingly, Stone personally paid DiCaprio’s $1 million salary for the movie when the producers hesitated to cast him. This fact only became public knowledge when Stone revealed it in her memoir, “The Beauty of Living Twice,” which was published in 2021.
Reflecting on their time together, Stone fondly remembered DiCaprio as a young kid. She shared that he would spend time in her trailer and even imitate her while on set. To celebrate his birthday during filming, Stone and her sister took him go-karting. It’s uncertain whether DiCaprio was aware that Stone had paid his salary until she disclosed it in her book.