Sharon Stone in limelight as Cannes film judge

Sharon Stone is back in the limelight in one of her first public appearances since she suffered a debilitating stroke.

The 44-year-old actress suffered the stroke last September and was rumoured to have been admitted to hospital in San Francisco a few days ago after another health setback.

But she was well enough to attend the Cannes Film Festival where she is on the Grand Jury panel for the prestigious Palme d'Or competition.

Stone looked as glamorous as ever as she posed for photographers in a chic beige trouser suit.

But at a subsequent press conference there were signs that she was not quite her former self, at times appearing tired and labouring over her answers.

Stone took time off from Hollywood two years ago to raise her adopted son Roan with husband Phil Bronstein.

Her return to the movie business was then put on hold after she suffered the stroke and the time away from Hollywood has caused her to re-evaluate her career, she says.

The star whose most famous scene saw her uncross her legs to reveal her lack of underwear in Basic Instinct says she now feels "embarrassed" to be posing for the paparazzi and is happier in her role as a wife and mother.

"For two years I have been called 'mama' or 'honey' so it feels silly having all these photographers shouting out my name. It's really kind of weird," she said.

"I'm now more comfortable being a mom and I've learned that I want to bring the qualities of being a mom into my new roles."