Actress SHARON STONE is thankful to have survived her brain aneurysm in 2001 because the health scare made her re-evaluate what was really important in her life.The Basic Instinct star, 49, was hospitalised with a brain aneurysm six years ago, but has since made a complete recovery.She tells U.S. chatshow host Larry King, “I seem to be able to walk and talk just fine (now). (But) in the beginning, I have to say, it was (touch and go).”It’s a big thing, like when you have anything that affects the brain. It’s pretty scary – I think when anyone has a big affecting incident in their life, whether it’s a divorce or a job change or a move or a health crisis, it’s a moment to reconsider your whole life. And it’s very affecting.” [Source]

Sharon Stone gave a rare interview on a US chat show and revealed she still enjoys being called a sex symbol.The Basic Instinct actress, 49, who was named among 25 of the sexiest stars of the century by Playboy magazine, told Larry King Live that she still enjoys the tag.Stone said: “Yes I like being called a sex symbol. It beats not being a sex symbol.”The actress also told King that she is looking forward to her 50th birthday, despite early fears that she was getting too old. “I had a couple of weeks where I thought, Jesus. That’s a big number. And then, you know, I started feeling really great about it, excited about it and kind of wonderful.”In the personal interview, the star also spoke of her brain aneurysm that saw her hospitalized 6 years ago.She said: “In the beginning, I have to say it was a big thing when you have anything that affects the brain.It’s pretty scary. I think when anyone has a big affecting incident in their life, whether it’s a divorce or a job change or a move or a health crisis, it’s a moment to reconsider your whole life. And it’s very affecting.”

Basic Instinct star Sharon Stone confessed that it was only after her brain aneurysm in 2001 that she began to re-evaluate her life. Stone had been hospitalized with a brain aneurysm six years ago, and has since made a complete recovery. “I seem to be able to walk and talk just fine (now). (But) in the beginning, I have to say, it was (touch and go),” Contactmusic reports her as telling U.S. chatshow host Larry King.”It’s a big thing, like when you have anything that affects the brain. It’s pretty scary – I think when anyone has a big affecting incident in their life, whether it’s a divorce or a job change or a move or a health crisis, it’s a moment to reconsider your whole life. And it’s very affecting.”The star is thankful to have survived it, as it has given her a chance to re-evaluate the important aspects of her life. [Source]

AmfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, will hold its first-ever fundraising dinner and auction in Dubai on Dec. 10.A presentation of the Dec. 9-16 Dubai International Film Festival, Cinema Against AIDS Dubai will take place at Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort. It will be similar to other fundraising events that amfAR holds during other international film festivals. Sharon Stone, amfAR’s global fundraising chair, amfAR chairman of the board Kenneth Cole and amfAR ambassador Michelle Yeoh will travel to Dubai to help raise HIV/AIDS awareness in the region. They also will chair the fundraiser along with LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson, Abdul Majid al Fahim and Satjiv S. Chahil. The event, sponsored by Dubai Pearl and co-sponsored by Hewlett-Packard, will be held under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the United Arab Emirates’ vice president and prime minister, ruler of Dubai.

Dubai will host its first ever international AIDS week next month in association with the Dubai International Film Festival.The new fundraising initiative, Cinema Against AIDS Dubai, will be supported by Hollywood actress Sharon Stone and will be under the patronage of Princess Haya, wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.The event, a gala dinner chaired by the Basic Instinct star, will raise funds for AmFAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research), the world’s most prominent AIDS and HIV research and public policy advocacy group and will coincide with the UAE’s first AIDS Week.

BIG-SCREEN vixen Sharon Stone forfeited $500,000 to help dying children get their final wish.The Hollywood siren cancelled a lucrative appearance in Moscow to be guest of honour at a Make-a-Wish Foundation auction in Miami, Florida.She was drafted in to help convince rich businessmen to open their wallets and hit the evening’s $1 million target.And the 49-year-old Basic Instinct star didn’t disappoint – wearing a skintight, backless black catsuit, she purred her way around the room, sitting on their laps to coax the cash.She even topped off the bash by selling off her own 1985 Rolls Royce Silver Spur.After mentioning the backseat was “roomy”, the bids shot up to 80,000 pounds. [Source]