I can say that the role was by far the most stretching that I had ever done in terms of considering the dark side of myself. I came to work ready to play Catherine Tramell. I had spent so long coming to the project that I had fully examined the character and the dangerousness of the part. That was how I saw my vagina-shot for the first time, long after I’d been told, “We can’t see anything-I just need you to remove your panties, as the white is reflecting the light, so we know you have panties on.” Yes, there have been many points of view on this topic, but since I’m the one with the vagina in question, let me say: The other points of view are bullshit.Ĭhuck had to break into the casting director’s office with his credit card and steal the script so we could read it, as no one would give it to us. Not on my own with the director, as one would anticipate, given the situation that has given us all pause, so to speak, but with a room full of agents and lawyers, most of whom had nothing to do with the project. After we shot Basic Instinct, I got called in to see it. Oh, not that the universe hasn’t given pause to this concept. And you will not, should not, even consider shaming my mother. But I made sure I gave every thought to its complete disaster. Like Michael, I knew where the line was, and he was over it. And he? He was a man from the generation that had done it. A woman who, through arduous undertakings, had learned what life had done to my mother. How could she? Who in God’s name had taken care of her? Who had taught her how a parent should love? However, I was a woman, a grown woman. At the time, I was convinced that my mother didn’t love me. His only response was, “Next time get a mother who loves you.” He said, “Why?” and I said, “We respect ourselves.” The director told me to do something, and I said, “Women don’t act like this anymore.” He isn’t afraid to play the villain he’ll say, “It’s the best part-you can do whatever you want,” and then he laughs that fabulous laugh, which tells you that he knows exactly where the line is.

He has been such a profoundly important human rights activist, and I admire him so much.

Basic instinct leg crossing scene