Actor Billy Baldwin has detailed his refusal to kiss co-star Sharon Stone during the filming of the 1993 thriller Sliver, citing months of tension on set. Baldwin made the remarks during an interview on the Lisa Guerrero Unleashed podcast, where he described the working conditions as uncomfortable and said he sought producers' intervention to avoid the kiss in their final love scene.
Baldwin’s Account of On-Set Tension
Baldwin, 63, stated that for roughly three months, Stone did not acknowledge him on set, saying she would not greet him, say goodbye, or engage in any interaction. He described her as being "off book" and performing for the camera during her close-ups, but sitting apart with her script open during his scenes. "She wouldn’t even look at me," Baldwin said. He recounted meeting with director Phillip Noyce and producer Robert Evans, telling them, "I can’t do the last love scene."
Baldwin claimed he was told he was hired to perform the role, including the love scene, but negotiated to avoid the kiss. "I said, 'All right, listen. I can do the scene,'" he noted. "I said, 'But I just please don’t make me kiss her. Please don’t make me kiss her.'" Baldwin asserted that the final love scene in the film, which depicts his character and Stone’s engaging in sex against a pillar, was a result of his request not to kiss.
Stone’s Previous Claims and Baldwin’s Response
Stone, 68, previously alleged in her 2021 memoir The Beauty of Living Twice that Evans suggested she have sex with Baldwin off camera to alleviate on-set tension and improve Baldwin’s performance. Baldwin disputed this, stating Evans told him the same thing. "Robert Evans wasn’t saying that to her or me about our acting," Baldwin said. "He was saying, 'I keep getting reports that there’s incredibly bad tension. We know what it’s about. All this pent-up sexual energy tension. Just do it and get it over with.'"
Baldwin also expressed a willingness to reconcile with Stone, telling the podcast host he would "love to bury the hatchet" and shake her hand. He added, "I would love to see Sharon Stone and shake her hand and give her a hug."
Production Context and Aftermath
Baldwin’s comments come nearly three decades after the film’s release. The Sliver production was reportedly marked by friction, with Baldwin stating the tension made the set "miserable" for the cast and crew. Representatives for Stone and Baldwin have not responded to requests for comment.