Actress Sharon Stone has claimed that the director of her 1992 film “Basic Instinct,” Paul Verhoeven, asked her to remove her underwear before filming the iconic leg-crossing scene.

The movie, which became known for its graphic sx scenes, follows detective Michael Douglas as he becomes involved with Stone’s character, a murder suspect.

The leg-crossing scene, in which Stone’s character uncrosses and crosses her legs during an interrogation, has become one of the film’s most memorable moments.

During an acceptance speech for her Woman of the Year award at the Berlin GQ Men of the Year Awards on Thursday, Stone recreated the famous scene and shared her experiences with the audience.

She explained that Verhoeven had requested that she remove her underwear for the scene, saying, “Can you hand me your underpants because we’re seeing them in the scene and you shouldn’t have underpants on, but we won’t see anything.”

Stone went on to say that she had agreed to the request without realizing the impact it would have on her life.

Asking the audience to join her in recreating the leg-cross, Stone questioned whether they felt empowered, stating, “Do you feel empowered? Maybe not.”

The actress then went on to discuss the importance of agency and power in one’s own sexuality, saying, “People have every right to be powerful in whatever form of sexuality we choose to have and no one is allowed to take that away from you.”

Stone also reflected on the fact that her dignity had been “hard won” and that she had only “done that,” referring to the leg-crossing scene, in order to achieve it.

She expressed gratitude to GQ for selecting her as Woman of the Year, saying, “Thank you for choosing me as woman of the year because there was a time when all I was, was a joke.”

In recent comments, Stone has expressed doubt about whether “Basic Instinct” would be made today, given the current climate of increased sensitivity towards issues of consent and exploitation in the entertainment industry.

The film’s depiction of sexual violence and its portrayal of a strong, sexually confident female character have also been the subject of much debate and criticism over the years.

Despite its controversy, “Basic Instinct” was a commercial success upon its release and remains a cultural touchstone to this day.

It is not the first time that Stone has spoken out about her experiences on the film, as she has previously discussed the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry and the pressure to conform to certain standards of beauty and sexuality.

As an actress, Stone has had a long and varied career, with notable roles in films such as “Casino,” “Gloria,” and “Total Recall.”

She has also been involved in various philanthropic endeavors and has been an advocate for various causes, including HIV/AIDS awareness and animal rights.

In her acceptance speech for the Woman of the Year award, Stone used the opportunity to share her thoughts on the importance of self-empowerment and agency in sexuality.

She also touched upon the challenges of working in an industry that has often been criticized for its treatment of women, and the personal struggles she has faced in the pursuit of dignity and respect.