Actress Sharon Stone spoke about why accessibility in Hollywood is important at a recent event, The Hollywood Reporter's Raising Our Voices luncheon.
In her address, she said her acting career had not come back after her 2001 stroke and brain hemmorage.
She said she at first didn't want to tell anyone.
“When it first happened, I didn’t want to tell anybody because you know if something goes wrong with you, you’re out."
She also defined disability as a facet of having more diverse representation in film sets and on stage.
“Diversity can mean more than one thing."
"Diversity can be an injury, diversity can be the color of your skin, diversity can mean standing up for yourself."
"If you are diverse, you must demand a position in this business.”
You can watch Stone's comments below.
\u201cSharon Stone highlights an important issue for all #strokesurvivors - stigma and discrimination. It affects everything from physical to financial outcomes; from mental wellbeing to social participation. To drive change we need to drive a change in attitudes towards stroke.\u201d— WorldStrokeCampaign (@WorldStrokeCampaign) 1685616576
People commented on how happy they were Stone was speaking about this important issue.
\u201cStroke doesn\u2019t discriminate but some workplaces do. \n\n#stroke #returntowork #stigma\u201d— Prof. Maree Hackett (she/her) \ud83d\udc3e\ud83d\udc3e wash your paws (@Prof. Maree Hackett (she/her) \ud83d\udc3e\ud83d\udc3e wash your paws) 1685966024
\u201cHuge respect for Sharon Stone talking about the reality of having a #stroke, the stigma, and the years of recovery! \ud83c\udf1f\ud83d\ude4c\ud83c\udffb\ud83d\udc96\u201d— 40 Parties \ud83c\udf89 \ud83d\udc99 (@40 Parties \ud83c\udf89 \ud83d\udc99) 1685626385
Some were not surprised Hollywood executives discarded Stone.
\u201c@FoxNews Wait, Hollywood is narcissistically shallow, temporary, & vapid ???\n\nI\u2019m shocked.\u201d— Fox News (@Fox News) 1685976319
\u201c@FoxNews Well,any woman over 45ish\u201d— Fox News (@Fox News) 1685976319
\u201c@FoxNews There's life after Hollywood.\u201d— Fox News (@Fox News) 1685976319
\u201cAre actors so afraid they won\u2019t get roles if they had a health crisis? Sharon Stone hasn\u2019t had work in the twenty years since her stroke. For instance, all the hush hush about Jamie Fox and his \u201chealth emergency\u201d? Pickleball lie?\u201d— puffle (@puffle) 1685892017
\u201c@FoxNews Hollywood \u2026 sports \u2026 most jobs \u2026 yep \u2026 pretty normal\u201d— Fox News (@Fox News) 1685976319
\u201c@FoxNews Not uncommon in many professions.\u201d— Fox News (@Fox News) 1685976319
\u201c@FoxNews People are nothing but cogs in the monstrous machinery of capitalism. To be tossed aside when damaged and replaced by a shiny new one allowing the machine to grind on.\u201d— Fox News (@Fox News) 1685976319
Still another pointed to concrete action people can take if they want to ensure those who have disabilities still have equality.
\u201c@FoxNews That's what happens. Why imo it's important to protect social security safety programs cause it happens to people who can't afford it.\u201d— Fox News (@Fox News) 1685976319
Stone wrapped up her talk by calling out the "anti-woke" political climate, standing firmly against it.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung presenting U.S. President Donald Trump with honors and gifts at the Gyeongju National Museum in Gyeongju on October 29, 2025.Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
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