Following Mickey Rourke's entry this week (72) into the British Celebrity Big Brother where he has also made headlines for his peculiar physical appearance, it was only a matter of time to wonder what has become of Kim Basinger (71)? The actors starred in the erotic drama Nine 1/2 Weeks (1986) that turned them into stars and sex symbols.
Although she is not very active in movies and television, the American actress has not retired. It had been years since she granted an interview, but she finally decided to speak exclusively with Variety magazine at the end of February this year, where she denied being retired: "I am very demanding" and "I read a lot of bad material." Scripts pile up in her refuge away from the Hollywood frenzy.
She lives in a fabulous house between the San Fernando Valley and Malibu with her boyfriend, stylist Mitch Stone, with whom she has found the long-awaited tranquility. The last time they were seen together was when they attended the baby shower of Ireland (29), the daughter the actress had with Alec Baldwin, who has been dating André Allen (40), a musician and record producer, for four years. In the mentioned interview, the Oscar winner confesses that her daughter and granddaughter had just left for Oregon after spending ten days with her.
Finally, the star puts an end to the rumors of a bad relationship she had with Mike Rourke during the filming of Nine 1/2 Weeks: "I wanted to meet Mickey Rourke in that supermarket (featured in the movie). I didn't want to greet him before. I didn't want to talk to him on set. It had nothing to do with all the things you read on the internet about us hating each other. I adored him. Besides, he is a brilliant actor. But when I met him, it was in a movie. And I never saw him again."
As a result of this film, the need for intimacy coordinators to make actors feel comfortable filming love and sex scenes is brought up. Her response contrasts with most of her colleagues' opinions: "I can't imagine someone coming up to me and saying, 'Do you mind if they put their hand here?' It's just another person in the room. We either figure it out or we don't" and she adds: "I don't see the need for supervised visits that much."
She feels fortunate because since she was a Bond girl in Never Say Never Again (1983), the last film in the series starring Sean Connery, the industry and fans have managed to stop seeing her as a sexual object and appreciate her talent more. That's why she won the golden statuette for Best Leading Actress in L.A. Confidential (1997).
Not one to talk much about her private life, Basinger makes an exception to refer to the problematic and scandalous divorce from Alec Baldwin in 2002. Currently, "Alec and I have a great relationship. I have great respect for his current situation and his family. You know, we don't spend Christmas or holidays together or see each other much. But we talk. He calls me, and we have a very cordial relationship and, I believe, affectionate in many ways, simply because we share a daughter, and I only wish him the best. He's been through a lot lately."
She refers to the involuntary manslaughter charges during the filming of Rust, a case that was dismissed. The actor lives happily in New York with his wife Hilaria, whom he married in 2012 and with whom he has seven children.