Sharon Stone, who shot to fame after starring in Basic Instinct in 1992, has spoken out about the misogyny she experienced in Hollywood before she landed her iconic role.

The 62-year-old actor has revealed that she posed half-n^ked for Playboy to be seen as “sexy” and “f***able” in the industry.

Stone talked about her struggle to land leading roles in Hollywood at a time when the #MeToo movement was not even in sight.

She stated that the term “f***able” was equated with work and camera and that she was criticized for her appearance.

Stone said, “In the beginning, you found that I was too masculine, athletic and muscular, so pretty unsexy.

To be perceived differently, I had myself photographed half-n^ked for ‘Playboy'”.

The Hollywood star mentioned that she faced criticism for her looks from male actors.

Mel Gibson, who is three years older than Stone, thought she was too old to star opposite him.

Stone stated that the era 20 years ago was “pretty misogynistic”.

Despite her role in Basic Instinct, which established her as a sex symbol, Stone was surprised that her portrayal of a serial killer was deemed “sexy”.

She further talked about her struggle to feel like the “sexiest women alive” while in her forties.

Stone even revealed that she locked herself in the bathroom with a bottle of wine during that time of self-doubt.

In a recent interview with the German edition of Vogue magazine, Stone talked about her experience of misogyny in the film industry.

She said, “I feel that I’ve been treated brutally and brutally honest in my criticism. I’ve been told that I’m not thin enough, not pretty enough, not sexy enough, not young enough, not old enough.”

Stone is now looking for a partner on dating apps.

She has been married twice before, to Michael Greenburg and Phil Bronstein, respectively.

She has three children – Roan, Laird, and Quinn – from her marriages.