Sharon Stone announces 2 new roles

[November 16, 2011]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Sharon Stone is taking on two very different roles: One in the Linda Lovelace biopic, and another online to welcome returning troops.

The 53-year-old actress says she will play Lovelace's mother in "Inferno: A Linda Lovelace Story." But before filming starts, the "Basic Instinct" star has another mission: She's taking her first steps into the world of social media with a Facebook page that welcomes returning military personnel home from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Stone says her page will serve as a community bulletin board where people can not only thank the troops for their service, but offer them jobs, discounts, a helping hand and a warm welcome.

"It's very important that people know that their country is behind them," Stone said in an interview. "With all of this negative chatter in the governmental races, we need to have our actual country say what they feel in loving, really vocal terms."

Stone said that with 38,000 military personnel heading home in the coming weeks, she hopes her We Welcome Home Our Troops page will be a positive place where troops can find support.

"I'd like to see like big stores like Kmart and Target offer 30 percent off for veterans," she said. She hopes businesses seeking workers might also post on the page, along with "lots of thoughtful, understanding messages" from everyday citizens.

[Associated Press; By SANDY COHEN]

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