(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Sharon Stone confesses that "adversity was awful" in the past.

The stunning 54-year-old actress is a proponent of charity.

When Sharon began contributing her time and efforts to foundations for relief, the actress was initially harassed by a select group of adversaries.

"When I started doing charity work, people thought I was only doing it for press--they called me the new Zsa Zsa Gabor. The adversity was awful. My life was threatened--someone wanted to kill me," Sharon told Life & Style magazine. "It was serious. I know what it's like to be bullied, but charity work is meaningful to me, so I didn't give up. It was a hard time in my life. I had to be careful. People wanted to hurt me."

Sharon has been a spokesperson for the American Foundation for AIDS Research since the mid 1990s and has once raised $10 million for charity in two hours.

The actress is intent on supporting her causes despite the danger she experienced previously.

"I see the money I've raised be put to good use," Sharon said. "I've been given a gift, and it's created so much good. It's a great feeling and I'm happy to share [that gift]." (C) Cover Media