Nearly thirty-six years ago, in 1990, Paul Verhoeven‘s sci-fi film ‘Total Recall‘ hit the theatres with its mix of wild action and intense violence set on Mars. And one of the standout performances came from Sharon Stone as Lori Quaid.
Initially, she appears to be the perfect wife to Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s Douglas Quaid, but she is later revealed to be a trained agent who can fight fiercely.
Why Arnold Schwarzenegger Called Sharon Stone the “Female Terminator”
While filming, Stone did more than just keep up with Arnold. She made the role her own and delivered one of the most unforgettable fight scenes of the 1990s. Arnold was so impressed with her effort that he called her the “Female Terminator.”
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Stone prepared rigorously for the role. She did her own stunts and even learned detailed fight choreography. After filming ended, she was made an honorary member of the Stunt Women’s Association and among all the action scenes in the film, her fight with Arnold in the hallway stands out.
It is fast, physical, and full of energy, with kicks and knife attacks. Stone knew she was not playing an ordinary, helpless character but a dangerous and skilled fighter who could go head-to-head with one of the biggest action stars of all time.
Sharon Stone’s Nightmare Behind the Scenes
However, one scene turned into a real problem during filming. In the fight where Quaid has to overpower his wife, Arnold was supposed to grab her by the neck. As soon as they started shouting, Stone panicked and shouted, “Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me!”
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At first, Arnold thought she was behaving “like a tomboy” and was not used to rough physical scenes. But later, he learned the real reason. Apparently, Stone had suffered a serious neck injury when she was younger, and it had left scars. That made the scene especially difficult and uncomfortable for her.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Honest Reaction on Set With Sharon Stone
In his memoir and interviews, Arnold Schwarzenegger later talked about how tense the moment was. He reminded Stone that they had already rehearsed the scene earlier with Paul Verhoeven.
“Why did you not tell me this when we all rehearsed in hotel room on Sunset?” he told Sharon. “We were going through scene by scene. Why did you never say, ‘By the way, when we get into the fight scene, it says here that you’re strangling me, I have a little hang-up about my neck’? Then we could have worked around it step-by-step. I would gently put my hand on your neck, and then you let me know when I can squeeze tighter and when we can get a little rough. Because I’m the first one to understand.” In the end, the director had to step in and calm things down before they could continue.
Even with that setback, Stone stayed committed to the role. ‘Total Recall‘ helped her push closer to stardom and showed that she could match Arnold’s powerful screen presence. The film is still remembered for its practical effects, its famous line “Get your ass to Mars,” and its bold, over-the-top style.
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