DiCaprio thanks Sharon Stone again for paying his salary in Dead or Alive

The actress absolutely wanted to work with the young actor.

Leonardo DiCaprio confirmed to E! News the unexpected and precious help of Sharon Stone in 1995 for his role in Dead or alive. While he had just impressed the audience with his performance in Gilbert Grapereleased two years earlier, young Leo was not wanted by TriStar, the studio in charge of Dead or alive, a western directed by Sam Raimi.

Sharon Stone, who plays the main role of the film, was not of the same opinion and fought tooth and nail so that the young talent could be hired, considering that he had delivered the best performance during the castings. In his memoir published in 2021, Stone recalls the studio’s arguments (via Insider): “Why a stranger, Sharon, why are you shooting yourself in the foot?” The actress then writes: “The studio told me that if I wanted it so bad, I could pay for it with my own salary. What I have done.”

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Against everyone’s advice and convinced that he was the right choice, Sharon Stone therefore took charge herself Leonardo DiCaprio salary from his pocket. “I thanked her many times (…) I don’t know if I ever sent her a thank you gift, but I can never thank her enough”, says the actor. “She’s been a great advocate for cinema and given opportunities to other actors, so I’m very grateful”, he adds.

Dead or alive is a western telling the story of Ellen (Sharon Stone), a mysterious gunslinger arriving in the city of Redemption, led with an iron fist by Herod (Gene Hackman). Every year, the city organizes a duels tournament during which the fastest triggers compete. Ellen decides to enter the tournament to satisfy a personal vendetta. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Kid, an insolent young duelist and Russell Crowe plays the role of Cort. DiCaprio also states that Crowe and he were the two actors with whom Sharon Stone wanted to work the most.

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