Seagal denies sexual assault of Bond girl Rachel Grant

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

From Digital Spy

The following article contains discussion of allegations of sexual misconduct that some readers may find upsetting.

Actor and producer Steven Seagal has "vehemently" denied an allegation of sexual assault made by former Bond girl Rachel Grant.

Seagal's lawyers have also denied an allegation from the Die Another Day star that he attempted to indecently expose himself to her.

[Rachel Grant as Peaceful in Die Another Day, pictured with Pierce Brosnan as James Bond]

Grant, who played the character Peaceful in the 2002 James Bond film, alleged that Seagal "pushed [her] on to the bed with force" as she auditioned in a Bulgarian hotel suite for his film Out for a Kill.

The British actress, who was 26 at the time, claims she was flown to Sofia to rehearse lines back in September 2002, and was excited to meet her "childhood hero". In an interview with BBC News, Grant alleges when she was left alone with Seagal, he asked her to take her top off several times, which she refused.

"I stood up to try to distract him," Grant alleged. "But he was able to tug down my top, which was strapless. My breasts were completely exposed and I was forced to cover myself.

"He pushed me on to the bed with force. Then he said, 'I suppose you want to see my private parts' – though he used a different word. I was looking up and he started to pull down his zip."

Grant continued that she then "burst into tears", at which point Seagal stopped and began to apologise and told her that he liked to date actresses he worked with to improve the "on-screen chemistry".

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Grant, who didn't end up getting the part, added: "It was horrible – I was upset, embarrassed and hurt. What actress should be brought to someone's bedroom on the first meeting and then be told to take their top off?

"I lost a job and I cried a lot but I'm a positive person – I tried to take it with a pinch of salt. When it happens to you, you're ashamed, you're embarrassed, nobody needs to know, nobody. You hope it gets covered in dust and no-one will ever know."

Seagal's lawyers have said that he unequivocally denies Grant's allegations in their entirety.

"Our client denies having such contact with Ms Grant and further vehemently denies any alleged assault at all, in particular, the alleged assault occurring in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2002," they said in a statement.

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Grant added that she was emboldened to speak out by women sharing their stories of sexual harassment as part of the #MeToo and Time's Up campaigns.

"I want people to know that it actually makes more sense for people to talk about it a long time after it happens – you get over it and then you can talk about it," she added.

"I want to share what happened to me, so people will hear it and others might come forward."

She says she hopes campaigns like Time's Up and #MeToo will help bring an end to sexual harassment in the industry.

It comes after Seagal was accused of historic sexual harassment by US presenter Lisa Guerrero, and the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed they're investigating a separate sexual assault claim against the actor.

Seagal's spokesperson previously described separate historic accusations of sexual harassment from actress Jenny McCarthy as "completely false".


Rape Crisis England and Wales works towards the elimination of sexual violence. If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland's helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.

Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.


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