Kate Winslet Reveals “Bitter Regrets” For Working With Woody Allen

It’s finally happened: Kate Winslet has spoken about her “bitter regrets” about working with Woody Allen, four months after facing enourmous backlash for working with him.

The Academy Award-winning actress was honoured with the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film at the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards.

“I wouldn’t be able to stand here this evening, and keep to myself some bitter regrets that I have at poor decisions to work with individuals with whom I wish I had not,” she told the crowd, before taking a second to regain her composure.

She continued: “It has become clear to me that by not saying anything, I might be adding to the anguish of many courageous women and men. Sexual abuse is a crime. While it rests with the rule of law to pass judgement, it lies with all of us to listen to the smallest of voices and to never stop listening.”

The actress, 42, worked with Allen on his upcoming flick Wonder Wheel, which also stars Justin Timberlake, Jim Belushi and Juno Temple. (FWIW, Timberlake has hardly escaped criticism here, although less has been levelled at Belushi or Temple.)

In an interview with the New York Times in September last year, the 42-year-old actress defended working with Allen despite allegations he had sexually molested his daughter, Dylan Farrow.

“Of course one thinks about it,” she said. “But at the same time, I didn’t know Woody and I don’t know anything about that family. As the actor in the film, you just have to step away and say, I don’t know anything, really, and whether any of it is true or false. Having thought it all through, you put it to one side and just work with the person. Woody Allen is an incredible director. So is Roman Polanski [who fled the United States after being charged with five offensives, including rape by use of drugs, against a 13-year-old girl in 1977]. I had an extraordinary working experience with both of those men, and that’s the truth.”

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Following renewed interest in Allen’s alleged crimes, several actors have been disassociating themselves with the director. Lady Bird director Greta Gerwig said she’ll never work with him again, Call Me By Your Name star Timothée Chalamet donated his fee to charity, and Ellen Page said that working with the man was “the biggest mistake of my life”.

Winslet – along with Allen collaborators Cate Blanchett and Blake Lively – has come under close scrutiny for her unwillingness to speak up about her past films.

And to that note, in the same speech where she expressed regret for working with Allen (although without addressing him by name), she also appeared to admonish her critics over her refusal to speak out earlier.

“Those who do have a voice are becoming afraid to say anything, because of intense scrutiny and criticism,” she said. “Nobody should be exempt of having a right to speak in support of vulnerable people. There are those who can speak so powerfully for those who are not able to do so themselves, and let us please not make this about which people express public regret.”

 

Right.

While most people are applauding Winslet for finally coming forward, some aren’t convinced.

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London-based entertainment reporter Laura Kramer managed to capture some of Winslet’s speech; you can watch it below.

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Meanwhile, Allen’s upcoming film, A Rainy Day In New York, might go the same way as Louis C.K.‘s I Love You, Daddy and not get a release. Oh no. So sad.

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