Kate Winslet on Harvey Weinstein's Behavior
Kate Winslet is the latest Hollywood star sounding off on her experience with Harvey Weinstein.
Back in 2009, Winslet won a Best Actress Oscar for her role in The Reader, which was (like many other Oscar-winning films) distributed by the Weinstein Company. The actress thanked 19 people in a heartfelt speech that night, but left out Harvey Weinstein and the Weinstein Company completely. And, according to Winslet, it was "deliberate."
"That was deliberate. That was absolutely deliberate," Winslet told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday. "I remember being told. 'Make sure you thank Harvey if you win.' And I remember turning around and saying, 'No I won't. No I won't.' And it was nothing to do with not being grateful. If people aren't well-behaved, why would I thank him?"
Winslet and Weinstein's working relationship dates back to Winslet's first film, Heavenly Creatures, which was released in 1994. The Peter Jackson-directed movie was distributed by Miramax Films, the production company Weinstein founded with his brother Bob. Winslet added that Weinstein reminded her constantly that she got her start in a Weinstein-funded movie.
The fact that I'm never going to have to deal with Harvey Weinstein again as long as I live is one of the best things that's ever happened and I'm sure the feeling is universal.
"For my whole career, Harvey Weinstein, whenever I've bumped into him, he'd grab my arm and say, 'Don't forget who gave you your first movie,'" Winslet told the Times. "Like I owe him everything. Then later, with The Reader, same thing, 'I'm gonna get you that Oscar nomination, I'm gonna get you a win, I'm gonna win for you.'"
"But that's how he operated," Winslet continues. "He was bullying and nasty. Going on a business level, he was always very, very hard to deal with - he was rude.
Winslet was one of the first celebrities to condemn Weinstein's actions when the allegations of his sexual misconduct were revealed. And while she hasn't claimed any sexual harassment against the producer, Winslet did address the toxic work environment she encountered while filming The Reader. "I can't even begin to describe the disgraceful behavior that went on," she told the paper. "And I'm actually not going to because it's a can of worms that I'm not prepared to publicly open - nothing to do with sexual harassment, thankfully, lucky me. My god. I somehow dodged that bullet."
Winslet has not worked with Harvey or on a Weinstein Company film since The Reader. "The fact that I'm never going to have to deal with Harvey Weinstein again as long as I live is one of the best things that's ever happened and I'm sure the feeling is universal," Winslet said.
You Might Also Like
