Actress Rebecca Hall 'regrets' working on Woody Allen's latest film and vows to give wage to Time's Up

Chris Graham
Updated
Rebecca Hall said she would not work with Woody Allen again - WireImage
Rebecca Hall said she would not work with Woody Allen again - WireImage

Rebecca Hall, the British actress, says she "regrets" appearing in Woody Allen's latest film after reading his daughter's attack on Hollywood for its continuing support for the embattled director.

Hall, whose career was boosted by starring in Allen’s 2008 film Vicky Cristina Barcelona, said she would not work with Allen again and would donate her wage for "A Rainy Day in New York" to the Time’s Up initiative.

Her statement comes a month after the director's adoptive daughter Dylan Farrow blasted Hollywood's double standards when it comes to claims of sexual abuse and harassment in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. 

Farrow has maintained her father sexually abused her when she was seven-years-old, a charge the filmmaker has denied. Connecticut police investigated, but charges were never filed.

In an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times, Ms Farrow criticised actresses, including Kate Winslet, for speaking out about sexual harassment in the industry while refusing to acknowledge her claims against Allen. 

The day after the Weinstein accusation broke in full force I was shooting a day of work on Woody Allen’s latest movie in New York. I couldn’t have imagined somewhere stranger to be that day. When asked to do so, some seven months ago, I quickly said yes. He gave me one of my first significant roles in film for which I have always been grateful, it was one day in my hometown - easy. I have, however subsequently realized there is nothing easy about any of this. In the weeks following I have thought very deeply about this decision, and remain conflicted and saddened. After reading and re-reading Dylan Farrow’s statements of a few days ago and going back and reading the older ones - I see, not only how complicated this matter is, but that my actions have made another woman feel silenced and dismissed. That is not something that sits easily with me in the current or indeed any moment, and I am profoundly sorry. I regret this decision and wouldn’t make the same one today. It’s a small gesture and not one intended as close to compensation but I’ve donated my wage to @timesup. I’ve also signed up, will continue to donate, and look forward to working with and being part of this positive movement towards change not just in Hollywood but hopefully everywhere. #timesup

A post shared by Rebecca Hall (@rebeccahall) on Jan 12, 2018 at 2:08pm PST

Hall, whose father Sir Peter founded the Royal Shakespeare Company and whose mother is the American opera singer Maria Ewing,  said her attitude to Allen had changed since reading Farrow's statements. 

"I see, not only how complicated this matter is, but that my actions have made another woman feel silenced and dismissed," she write on Instagram. 

"That is not something that sits easily with me in the current or indeed any moment, and I am profoundly sorry. I regret this decision and wouldn’t make the same one today."

She promised to donate her wage for the film to Time's Up, the campaign group recently launched to tackle the sexual harassment problems revealed by the Weinstein scandal.

Woody Allen is facing growing condemnation within Hollywood - Credit: Reuters
Woody Allen is facing growing condemnation within Hollywood Credit: Reuters

  

Mr Weinstein, the co-founded the entertainment company Miramax, faced of accusations of rape, sexual assault and harassment from dozens of women last year. His spokesman has repeatedly denied “any allegations of non-consensual sex”. 

Hall said she was on the set of A Rainy Day in New York when the Weinstein story broke. "In the weeks following I have thought very deeply about this decision, and remain conflicted and saddened," she said, admitting she had felt grateful to Allen for giving her one of her first significant roles in film. 

In speaking out against Allen, Hall is joining stars such as Mira Sorvino and Greta Gerwig.

Harvey Weinstein scandal: Hollywoods harassment hall of shame

Sorvino, 50, who won an Oscar in 1996 for her role in Allen's Mighty Aphrodite, wrote in an essay for Huffington Post this month that as "a naive young actress" she did not look into the allegation made against Allen, primarily as she admired his work growing up.

She said she was sorry for "turning a blind eye" to Farrow's accusations against him and vowed never to work with Allen again.

Earlier this week Gerwig, who worked with Allen on 2012's To Rome with Love, told the New York Times that "if I had known then what I know now, I would not have acted in the film".