British actress Charlotte Kirk’s mother today defended her daughter over her ‘casting couch’ affair which has rocked Hollywood.
The actress is at the centre of a sex for roles scandal over claims she had a fling with Warner Bros boss Kevin Tsujihara, who allegedly promised to find movie roles for her.
But today her mother Angie Kirk denied she had slept her way to the top, insisting that ‘the roles she has won, she has won on merit alone’.
Speaking from her home in Kent, Angie, 58, said: ‘Charlotte was 19 when she moved to the States, determined to pursue her dream.
British actress Charlotte Kirk’s mother Angie (pictured with the star) today defended her daughter over her ‘casting couch’ affair which has rocked Hollywood
Ms Kirk (left) is at the centre of a sex for roles scandal over claims she had a fling with Warner Bros boss Kevin Tsujihara (right), who allegedly promised to find movie roles for her
‘I know the amount of auditions Charlotte went on, I know the amount of dedication and hard work she put into them, and the roles she has won, she has won on merit alone.’
Opening the family album to share childhood pictures of the actress for the first time, Mrs Kirk added: ‘It’s so easy to criticise when you don’t know someone personally. Charlotte has come a long way from a small town in Kent to end up in Hollywood chasing her childhood dream to be an actress.
‘It’s not been an easy journey. From her working class roots she’s had to overcome many hurdles along the way.
‘Diagnosed with Asperger’s as a young girl, she struggled at school, but she’s tough, she’s a fighter, she always has been. I have nothing but admiration for her determination and courage.
‘I watched her work her way through drama school and after graduating, doing stage plays and commercials like so many other aspiring actors.’
Ms Kirk’s mother Angie opened up the family the family album to share childhood pictures of the actress for the first time as she spoke out to defend her daughter
The actress’s mother released the childhood snaps as she paid tribute to her daughter, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a personality disorder, from a very young age
Ms Kirk, her mother said, had moved to the US at the age of 19 to chase her dream of cracking Hollywood and had worked incredibly hard to become a successful actress
Speaking from her home in Kent, Mrs Kirk (left) said of her daughter (right): ‘The roles she has won, she has won on merit alone’
Ms Kirk’s mother had to read steamy details of her daughter’s sex life when texts were released in the US last week in which it was claimed she was promised roles in exchange for sex
The mother-of-three continued: ‘I think it’s very sad and deeply upsetting that people are jumping to such horrible conclusions about my daughter, Charlotte Kirk, based on the insinuations and hearsay written in the press.’
WarnerMedia launched a probe into married Warner Bros chairman and CEO Tsujihara’s alleged fling with Ms Kirk, which is said to have begun in 2013.
Ms Kirk’s mother had to read the steamy details of her daughter’s sex life when leaked text messages were released in the US last week.
The messages suggest a sexual relationship between the aspiring actress and the studio head in which he made promises that he would introduce her to influential executives and she would be considered for roles in movies and television.
Ms Kirk told Tsujihara that she felt used when she said the promised movie roles never materialised.
In one, Ms Kirk wrote: ‘You’re very busy I know but when we were in that motel having sex u said u would help me and when u just ignore me like you’re doing now it makes me feel used. Are u going to help me like u said u would?’
Also embroiled in the alleged sex scandal is Australian billionaire James Packer, who Kirk briefly dated in 2013, and his business partner Brett Ratner.
Packer introduced Ms Kirk and Tsujihara at the Hotel Bel Air back in 2013.
WarnerMedia launched a probe into married Warner Bros chairman and CEO Tsujihara (pictured with his wife) and his alleged fling with Ms Kirk, which is said to have begun in 2013
Ms Kirk (pictured) told Mr Tsujihara that she felt used when movie roles she said he’d promised never materialised in a series of leaked text message between the alleged former lovers
Packer and Ratner were close to closing a deal with Warner Bros at the time for their RatPac production company.
‘I have the opportunity of a lifetime for u,’ Packer wrote to Kirk in a late night text in September 2013. ‘Come to (the Hotel) Bel air now. U will never be able to pay me.’
Packer promised to introduce Kirk to ‘the most important man u can meet’.
Some messages imply that Ms Kirk believes that she was used to help close the $450-million co-financing deal for Packer and Ratner’s RatPac Entertainment.
Tsujihara has apologised over his role in the alleged affair and said he ‘deeply regretted’ mistakes he’d made in his personal life.
In a statement on Friday, Tsujihara said in a statement to employees: ‘I deeply regret that I have made mistakes in my personal life that have caused pain and embarrassment to the people I love the most.’
Tsujihara added that he was ‘proud’ of his staff and asked them to not allow the scandal to become a ‘distraction’.
‘Please don’t let my mistakes become a distraction. It’s important that we all stay focused on our work,’ he said.