It was with some trepidation that I went for the “Up Close and Personal with Sharon Stone” stage interview, which was one of the highlights of the recent Singapore Sun Festival.  It was on a Saturday, that was one factor; tickets to the event also cost a whopping $160, that was another factor, (Ok, so I was invited, but still that's a lot of money) but the overriding one was my personal encounter with the aging screen vixen the previous day. 

At her press conference, Stone stated: "The art of living well to me is to wake up every day and choose to be happy. Luxury is something that begins inside and that is to choose for ourselves health, wellness, kindness, grace and generosity." As she concluded the press briefing, I approached her with a couple of books as a souvenir for her and her children. Surrounded by her entourage, Stone approached me to see what I was offering. She glanced down at the books and her lips rapidly curled inwards, so much so that I was afraid that she would actually swallow them. A canyon-sized crease appeared between her brows and then she shook her head and turned on her heel. I was aghast and before I knew what was happening her bodyguard said “It’s not a good time,” and took my books for her. Then without a backwards glance,  Stone and her entourage disappeared behind the bronze elevator doors.  I surmised once she was out of range of the press, there was no need for her to practice the "kindness, grace and generosity" aspect of her speech. I later found out she turned down autograph and photo requests from other fans who approached her and was incredibly rude and ungracious about it too. In case you're wondering, yes I did attend the event and  Stone acted like a gracious, and fan friendly celebrity. It was one of her better acting jobs. I have to say her talk wasn't worth the money!