Sharon Stone In April, Sharon Stone was one of the stars who appeared at the opening of a new luxury hotel in Dubai. Now Sharon is in Turkey for the opening of the spectacular $1.4bn Mardan Palace. When a slightly cynical journalist asks the actress what her fascination with hotels is, they get the no-nonsense outspoken attitude the actress is famous for.
"My fascination with hotels is it allows me not to sleep in the streets when I have to travel," comes the reply.
Touché.
Whatever Stone's fascination with hotels, it's hard to criticise any celebrity that's taken the cash – a rumoured $1m – in order to appear at the opening. Mind you, it's also hard not to wish Sharon would just kick back and enjoy it for what it is: a killer party in a gloriously decadent hotel. Otherwise, you're left with this very odd juxtaposition: the Mardan, with its crystal staircase, acres of marble and gold leaf, 16,000sqm swimming pool, and an opening party featuring 600 guests, 110kgs of Beluga and an apparently endless supply of Dom Perignon... and an actress who then announces we've all "come together to alleviate poverty". Hmm...
But, you know what? We'll give Sharon the benefit of the doubt, given her outstanding work with the AIDS Research charity amfAR. Indeed, she's flown to Antalya from Cannes, where she raised some $5m from her now annual charity auction, a pretty good effort given the current economic climate.
"During difficult times though is when we have to be more generous, not less generous," says Sharon.
"We have to be more loving than at any other time. I think that's something we all have to think about during these difficult times. This is the time we have to be more aware of the person sitting next to us, to notice things around us, to notice the environment, and be more thoughtful in our day to day activities.
"Peace is an action, it's not something a couple of guys in blue suits, in front of a fireplace, talking on television are going to get for you, it's something you get for yourself. By offering someone a ride, picking up that plastic bottle, putting your shopping cart back, letting someone out into traffic...it's simple paths of generosity, and hope, that will create a peace."
It might be slightly gushy, but it's clear Stone believes every word she says. Given that she also credits her attitude – "it's about how you live and how you feel inside" – as the reason she looks so stunning at 51, perhaps it's worth considering.
"There's a great quote that for the first half of your life, you get the face you're born with," declares Sharon, "and for the second half of your life you get the face you deserve." She laughs. "When I read that I thought I'd better straighten up."