Ellen Barkin says director ripped off her merkin during nude scene: 'Nobody's looking at you'
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Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images Ellen Barkin
Ellen Barkin is no stranger to toxic behavior in Hollywood — and now she's "fresh out" of f---s to give.
In a candid interview with HuffPost published Tuesday, the veteran actress opened up about enduring widespread misogyny in the industry, including an alleged incident on the set of the 1989 thriller Sea of Love in which the male director forcibly removed her merkin (a pubic wig used to shield one's private parts) during the filming of a "very difficult" nude scene.
Barkin, who was then in her early 30s, said she felt too powerless to react at the time. "You do nothing," she said. "What was I going to do when Harold Becker on Sea of Love walks over and literally rips my merkin off, taking some pubic hair with him and saying: 'What do you need this for? Nobody's looking at you.'"
Everett Collection Ellen Barkin in 'Sea of Love'
Barkin added that the alleged incident "terrified" her scene partner. She did not name her scene partner, but the film stars Al Pacino as a troubled detective investigating a serial killer who leaves the song "Sea of Love" playing at crime scenes. Barkin portrays a suspect whom Pacino's character falls for, and has a love scene with him in the film.
"This is what [the industry's] like," Barkin said. "And I had an easy time with it, believe me."
A representative for Becker did not immediately respond to HuffPost's request for comment. EW has also attempted to reach Becker for comment.
Barkin previously made headlines when she alluded on Twitter to having a bad experience in an elevator with controversial director Terry Gilliam, and when she testified about Johnny Depp's "controlling" and "jealous" behavior during Depp's defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard.
According to Barkin's HuffPost interview, she won't shy away from calling out "bad-faith actors" at this point in her life and career.
"I have gotten phone calls that said, 'Please don't tweet,'" she said. But it'll take more than that to stop her. "The truth is, I am 68 years old. I don't give a f---. I'm fresh out of all my f---s."
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