Sharon Stone, who joined ‘Euphoria‘ in its third season, has called for the show to be required viewing for teenagers and parents alike in a passionate interview about addiction and family trauma.
The Oscar-nominated actress did not hold back in a recent instalment of Variety’s ‘Actors on Actors’, telling host Keke Palmer that the hit HBO series is “the greatest show on television” and that it “should be shown in every high school.”
Sharon Stone Reveals Personal Family Tragedy
The ‘Basic Instinct’ and ‘Casino’ star, who joined the cast of Sam Levinson’s acclaimed teen drama, said the show’s raw portrayal of addiction is not just entertainment, it is a vital educational tool. “We’ve met these kids. We’ve seen them turn into young adults. We’ve seen them turn into full-on drug dealers,” Stone told Palmer.
Related: Who Killed Rue Bennett? Inside The Shocking Overdose In ‘Euphoria’ Last Episode
The actress then revealed the deeply personal reason the show resonates so profoundly: her own family’s struggle with the drug trade. “My brother went to the biggest prison in New York,” Stone said, referring to her brother Michael’s past incarceration at Attica Correctional Facility. “He got in the drug business. It kept going.”
Stone recounted a desperate conversation in which she begged her brother to let her pay off his debts to leave the criminal world. “I was like, ‘You have to get out. You have to let me pay off your vig.’ He was like, ‘It doesn’t work like that. You can’t pay it off.”
Why the First Episode Made Sharon Stone Cry
Stone’s advocacy comes as ‘Euphoria’ airs its final season, which flashed forward to show the beloved characters navigating their twenties. Reflecting on the first episode of the series, which follows Zendaya’s Rue Bennett struggling with relapse, Stone admitted the honesty was overwhelming. “When the first episode ended, I just sat there and cried,” she said.
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The actress was scathing toward critics who wanted a tidy, happy resolution for the characters. “And then I read these reviews about how people wanted it to be this happy ending, and I’m like, ‘What you saw was so honest,’” Stone said. “‘Euphoria’ is so relevant”.
As a mother of three sons, Roan, Laird, and Quinn, Stone argued that parents cannot afford to look away from the uncomfortable realities depicted in the show. When Palmer noted that some viewers dismiss the show as having “too much sex,” Stone shot back, “‘My kid wouldn’t do that.’ It’s like, ‘Really? Do you know? And does your kid tell you who’s next to them?’”
Academic Support for Euphoria’s Educational Value
Stone’s call for the show to enter high school curricula is not without precedent. A 2025 academic paper published in the journal Akademisk Kvarter specifically explored the pedagogical potential of using ‘Euphoria’ to teach high school students about complex issues like toxic masculinity and gender identity .
“High school students appear to disapprove of forced ways to tell stories about gender relationships and sexuality—and Euphoria is one series that appears notably accepted for its portrayal,” the study found, noting that the show’s perceived “authenticity” helps facilitate difficult classroom conversations .
This research aligns with Stone’s assertion that the show’s greatest strength is its lack of judgment. “I believe it should be shown in every high school, and I think all the parents should have to see it,” Stone reiterated. “As a mom, I love it”.
Stone stars in the final season of ‘Euphoria’ as Patty Lance, a Hollywood executive who helps Maude Apatow’s character, Lexi Howard, navigate the entertainment industry. The series finale aired on May 31, bringing the groundbreaking HBO drama to a close .
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