Michelle Pfeiffer, 61, reveals she was the victim of an ‘inappropriate’ Me Too moment with a ‘high-powered person’ in the film industry at the age of 20
Michelle Pfeiffer has revealed she experienced a Me Too moment with a ‘high-powered person’ in Hollywood during the early days of her career.
The actress, 61, tried to ignore it at the time, but ‘cringes’ when she looks back on the incident now because it made her feel ‘really uncomfortable’.
The What Lies Beneath star told the Sunday Times’s Style magazine that the #MeToo movement forced her to re-evaluate her past and question the excuses she had made at the time, such as ‘I shouldn’t have worn that dress’ or ‘I should’ve known’.
‘It was inappropriate’: Michelle Pfeiffer has revealed she experienced a Me Too moment with a ‘high-powered person’ in Hollywood during the early days of her career
Michelle revealed: ‘First, I thought, “Well, I didn’t experience that,” but then as time went on I started going, “Well, actually, there was that one time.”‘
Reflecting on ‘one incident’ in particular, she said she ‘I am not going to share — but I look back and I cringe. I was really uncomfortable and it was inappropriate.
‘I put it in a drawer. I was 20, and it was with a high-powered person in the industry.’
Michelle admitted that were the man in question still alive, she would write to him to express her feelings.
Her candid admission comes after fellow actress Naomie Harris, 43, confessed she was assaulted by a famous actor during an audition in her mid-20s.
Upsetting: She said the #MeToo movement forced her to re-evaluate her past and question the excuses she had made at the time, such as ‘I shouldn’t have worn that dress’ or ‘I should’ve known’ (pictured in 1979 aged 21 – one year after the incident took place)
She said the ‘shocking’ incident took place in front of both the movie’s director and casting director, but claimed they failed to intervene because the actor ‘was and is a huge star’.
The Skyfall star explained in an interview with The Guardian newspaper: ‘I was in an audition and he put his hand up my skirt.
‘What was so shocking about it was the casting director was there and the director, and of course no one said anything at all because he was – he is – such a huge star.’
In the wake of sexual misconduct revelations about Harvey Weinstein, millions shared their stories about being sexually harassed and assaulted.
The Me Too movement began in October 2017 after actress Alyssa Milano followed on a suggestion from a friend of a friend and tweeted: ‘If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.’
Speaking out: Her candid admission comes after fellow actress Naomie Harris, 43, confessed she was assaulted by a famous actor during an audition in her mid-20s
The hashtag was tweeted nearly a million times in 48 hours.
The slogan came after activist Tarana Burke first began using the phrase a decade ago to raise awareness about sexual violence.
It is linked to the Time’s Up movement, which was set up last year after #MeToo to provide funds for women taking legal action against alleged abusers.
Time’s Up also wants to introduce legislation across the globe to penalise companies that tolerate persistent harassment, and to discourage the use of nondisclosure agreements to silence victims.
It is backed by more than 300 women in Hollywood including Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams, Laura Dern and Oprah Winfrey.
Starting the conversation: The Me Too movement began in October 2017 after actress Alyssa Milano followed on a suggestion from a friend of a friend and tweeted: ‘If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet’