Sharon Stone was Hollywood’s resident femme fatale in the 1990s. Three decades on, that split second in Basic Instinct is perhaps the moment that defines her acting career. But Stone is allergic to pigeonholing. Now 65, she’s also a memoirist and artist. During the pandemic, she picked up painting, creating abstract and explosive canvases. They are going on view in Berlin, at Galerie Deschler. Here, she takes us through her nighttime routine, which often stretches into the early morning.

When do you start PREPARING for bed?
I’m really a night owl. I have three kids, and I don’t go to bed until my kids are home and in bed. Now they’re older, so that can get late. If I’m painting, I paint until I’m done. I can paint until two, three, four o’clock in the morning. There are days I don’t even get into my studio until four in the afternoon [because] I have responsibilities in the rest of my world. I have to do my grown-up stuff.

Sometimes my getting ready for bed is just collapsing. I get ready for bed by waking up and seeing that I’m covered in paint.

Take us through your skin-care routine.
My friend brought me back a foot bowl from India, which is really lovely. It grounds me and brings me back into reality. I might do a footbath and watch TV. I’m watching True Detective. Jodie [Foster] is just killing it. I also take baths in sea salt from the Dead Sea. Sometimes I put apple-cider vinegar or baking soda in there.

I clean the paint out from under my nails, which is a daily ritual. I rinse my face—I often don’t have makeup on. Right now, I’m using Augustinus Bader skin care and Biography oils. I’m also using this new oil called Sacred Serum, by Sacred Rituel Beauty. I put the Augustinus Bader stuff in my hair, and I put the Biography oils in my hair. I’m an oil person. I love to slather the oils all over myself.

Do you have any pre-bed rituals?
My main rituals are to treat myself well and to talk to myself well. I talk to my paintings like they’re living beings. I feel like they are. In a way, it’s also like talking to myself. I tell my paintings how beautiful they are and how great they’re doing. Like: Oh, you’re so beautiful. Oh, my God, look what you’re doing, I didn’t know you were going to do that, you little sexy minx.

I usually put a fire in the fireplace next to my bed, and I meditate a little bit. I have crystals in my room. I do all the woo-woo things—all of them. When I’m being good, I like to do a little workout. I find if I do some squats and some yoga, I feel better.

What’s one thing you have to do before bed?
I’m an herbal-tea person. I drink herbal teas all day long, just constantly. I drink a lot of dandelion tea and ginger tea. I also really love just a good old decaf PG Tips in the morning. I really believe that’s the main thing that’s kept me really well and good, the constant putting of warm liquid into my body.

Are you particular about your sleeping conditions?
I could sleep on the floor. Last night, I fell asleep on the couch and never made it to my bed, which I thought really demonstrated some very sad, bachelor behavior.

Do you ever fall asleep in your studio?
No. I’m very ritualized about cleaning up the studio. When I studied in art school, it was very specific how you clean up your station. I’m also a Virgo rising. I’m very much that person who [believes] everything has to be put away. When I’m at work, I clean my trailer before I leave. When I check out of a hotel, all the towels are in the tub, and everything is cleaned.

How long does it take you to fall asleep?
I can lie there for hours just thinking about the color of a line or looking for a color.

Tell us about your sheets.
I’m Irish. I love linen sheets. Some people don’t like them, because they think they’re scratchy, but I like them when they get washed. They get soft and kind of wrinkly.

What’s your most bizarre nighttime habit?
I really do like the late night. That’s when I like to watch TV, when I like to go outside. That’s when the nocturnal animals are out. I like the sound of nighttime animals. I like the quiet of the air. I like the density of the nighttime air. I like looking at the moon. I think that’s why I liked Casino so much, because we shot all night, all the time.

WHERE IS YOUR Favorite place to sleep?
Paris when I have jet lag and it’s raining. For many, many, many years, I stayed in the Coco Chanel Suite at the Ritz, which I loved. When they started remodeling, I moved over to another hotel with the most fantastic swimming pool.

What’s the best night’s sleep you’ve ever had?
When I was about 30, I had a great boyfriend who was six foot eight. He would spoon with me. Of course, he was the big spoon. And the way he slept with me was so lovely, so protective, and so charming. I slept very, very well with him. I like a good sleeping partner. I haven’t had one in quite a while now. [My dog’s] a good sleeping partner. When I don’t feel well, he sleeps on what hurts me, which is very kind.

Jensen Davis is a Senior Editor at AIR MAIL