Kate Winslet Expresses Her Regrets Working With Certain ‘Men of Power’

Variety.com: Kate Winslet has admitted regret over working with certain individuals — presumably directors like Woody Allen and Roman Polanski, who have been accused of sexual abuse.

Winslet has appeared in Polanski’s 2011 film “Carnage” and Allen’s “Wonder Wheel” last year. Polanski pleaded guilty to raping a 13-year-old girl in 1979, but fled the country before he was sentenced and stands accused of four other rapes. Allen has been accused of sexually assaulting his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow, though the charges were later dropped.

As recently as December, Winslet praised Allen for his directing ability and spoke enthusiastically about her time working with him, avoiding the topic of his sexual assault allegations. However, while on stage at the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards, Winslet tearfully expressed, without dropping names, that she had some “bitter regrets” about working with directors who have been accused of sexual abuse.

“There are directors, producers and men of power who have for decades been awarded and applauded for their highly regarded work by both this industry and moviegoers alike. Indeed, many actors have had flourishing careers due in part to roles played in their films,” Winslet said. “The message we received for years was that it was the highest compliment to be offered roles by these men. As women around the world and from all walks of life marched last weekend, once again joining together to speak out about harassment, exploitation and abuse, I realized that 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.”

Winslet’s comments come after Farrow spoke publicly about her abuse allegations and after other actors who have worked with Allen, like Colin Firth and Greta Gerwig, expressed that they would never work with the director again. Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Hall have pledged to donate their salaries from working on Allen’s upcoming film “A Rainy Day in New York” to charity and the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund.