McCarthy and Stone Honoured at Variety Power of Women Event

Melissa McCarthy and Sharon Stone were among the figures recognised at Variety's annual Power of Women event, held in Beverly Hills to mark the publication's Power of Women issue.

McCarthy, who was honoured alongside Stone, spoke about her role as Patsy Ramsey in an upcoming Netflix series, "The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey." She described the part as one of the most difficult of her career and said it affected her more deeply than any previous role.

She recalled initially hesitating to take on the project, saying she had no wish to revisit the trauma surrounding the case. Her interest grew after learning that Richard LeGravanese had written it, prompting her to read the material. As she studied reports and accounts of the case, she said she came to recognise that she had once formed part of the public judgment directed at the Ramsey family.

McCarthy said she had believed what she read in print without real knowledge of the facts, and that she hoped the series could restore some of the family's humanity. She added that Patsy Ramsey now holds a personal place in her heart and that she hoped she had done well by her.

Stone, for her part, reflected on the people who helped her adjust to sudden fame early in her career. She described becoming famous over the course of a single weekend and finding herself unable to move about freely, a situation she called frightening.

After asking a friend whether he knew anyone famous who could offer guidance, she said Shirley MacLaine invited her to dinner and shared advice drawn from her own experience. Stone also credited Faye Dunaway with taking her to the premiere of "Basic Instinct," and recalled kindnesses from Dyan Cannon, Phyllis Diller and George Burns, who invited her to accompany him to various events.

She said comedians in particular welcomed her into their circles, an experience she described as the thing she treasures most.

Stone also discussed how her work as a visual artist shapes her approach to acting. She said a director's clear vision of a film allows her to build a character in tandem with them, and that collaboration with set decorators, location managers and others helps the movie tell its story visually.

Other honorees at the event included Jennifer Hudson, Pearlena Igbokwe and Issa Rae, who were recognised for their philanthropic efforts. Queen Latifah, Normani, Jenna Dewan and others were also in attendance.