British actress Jessica Hynes has come forward to claim she was fired for refusing to screen test in a bikini for Harvey Weinstein as the Hollywood mogul faces a string of sexual harassment claims.
The Tony-nominated actress, best known for her roles in the BBC sitcom W1A and Channel 4’s Spaced, claimed on Twitter today: ‘I was offered a film role at 19, Harvey Weinstien came on board and wanted me to screen test in a bikini. I refused & lost the job.’
The 44-year-old added: ‘I’m sure there are many more…’
Hynes, who earlier in her career went by Jessica Stevenson, has starred in the two most recent ‘Bridget Jones’ films as well as a number of theatrical productions, being nominated for a Tony in 2009 for her role in ‘The Norman Conquests’ on Broadway.
Writer and comedian Jack Howard said, replying to Hynes: ‘Holy s*** I knew the story but I didn’t know who it was about.’
Hynes did not reveal what the film was, but it would have been around 1991 or 1992 when Weinstein was beginning his ascent up the ranks in the movie industry while working in London.
This comes as Weinstein’s decades of sexual harassment were revealed by The New York Times.
It was revealed on Thursday that he once asked Ashley Judd if she would like to watch him shower during a meeting in his room at the Peninsula Beverly Hills and paid $100,000 to Rose McGowan for an unknown incident shortly after she filmed her breakthrough role in the film ‘Scream.’
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British actress Jessica Hynes has come forward to claim she was fired for refusing to screen test in a bikini for Harvey Weinstein as the Hollywood mogul faces a string of sexual harassment claims
The Tony-nominated actress, best known for her roles in the BBC sitcom W1A and and Channel 4’s Spaced, claimed on Twitter today: ‘I’m sure there are many more…’
Hynes, who earlier in her career went by Jessica Stevenson, has starred in the two most recent ‘Bridget Jones’ films as well as a number of theatrical productions, being nominated for a Tony in 2009 for her role in ‘The Norman Conquests’ on Broadway
Laughing lion: Weinstein looked remarkably chipper and cheerful for an admitted sexual harasser
Easy breezey: Georgina Chapman, 42, stepped out of her $15 million townhouse in the West Village of Manhattan on Friday at around 9.30am on her way to work (above)
In a fog: The morose designer did her best to smile in her first public outing since an expose revealed details of her husband’s three decades of sexual harassment
That settlement is one of eight that Weinstein has reportedly paid out over the past 30 years, with Italian model Ambra Battilana also getting an undisclosed sum in 2015 after accusing the Hollywood executive of groping her and putting his hand under her skirt.
Earlier today, Georgina Chapman was seen leaving her Manhattan home, marking the first time she has been seen in public since the allegations against her husband came forward.
The Marchesa designer appeared morose but did manage to flash a smirk as she made her way out of the $15million townhouse she shares with Harvey Weinstein an hour after her husband headed off to work.
Weinstein exited the home on Friday carrying some papers under his arm and flashing a big smile as he made his way to the waiting SUV outside, with his trip to the office coming less than 24 hours after he informed the Times that he was taking a leave of absence.
The embattled Hollywood heavyweight appeared surprisingly upbeat and chipper, especially given the fact that his board will be voting on Friday afternoon on whether or not to cut all ties to the founder and namesake of the company.
It was in 1991 when he sexually harassed the first of his many victims who came forward to speak with the Times on the record about his behavior.
Laura Madden said that she was asked by Weinstein to give him massages while he was staying at hotels in Dublin and London at that time.
‘It was so manipulative,’ said Madden.
‘You constantly question yourself — am I the one who is the problem?’
Last day before new start: McGowan’s settlement is one of eight that Weinstein has reportedly paid out over the past 30 years
One last look: Weinstein glanced out the car window as his SUV drove off on Friday morning
Chapman, 41, did not comment on any of the claims on her way out of the home, heading straight off to her atelier ahead of her label’s bridal presentation next week.
She stayed similarly silent on social media Thursday, opting to post photos of her bridal line rather than address the bombshell report in the Times, which will soon be followed by at least one more story in the New Yorker.
Weinstein played a big role in Chapman’s ascent in the fashion world, as the well-connected executive facilitated the relationships between his wife and stars like Blake Lively, Jennifer Lopez, Penelope Cruz and Sandra Bullock.
Chapman may have been a bit down on Friday, but her sartorial selections were, as usual, picture perfect.
The British-born designer paired $1,045 Valentino heels and a purse from the Italian brand with a jean jacket and skirt.
Chapman then added a pop of color with her silk blouse.
She kept her eyes hidden however behind a large pair of $500 Dior Diorama sunglasses, while her hair looked as if it has been perfectly blown out and styled on Thursday.
Project runway: She kept her eyes hidden however behind a large pair of Dior sunglasses, while her hair looked as if it has been perfectly blown out and styled on Thursday
Work work work work work: Chapman’s label Marchesa will hold their bridal presentation next week
It was also inside his room at the Peninsula Beverly Hills where Weinstein allegedly stripped naked and forced a female employee to give a massage.
Weinstein did not deny any of the explosive claims uncovered by the Times, saying: ‘I appreciate the way I’ve behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it. Though I’m trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go.’
He added that he is now taking a leave of absence from the company to ‘deal with this issue head on.’
Judd recounted her encounter with Weinstein, saying she was doing night shoots for her 1997 film ‘Kiss the Girls’ when she got an invite to meet with Weinsten that she could not pass up.
She said she felt uncomfortable from the start and ordered cereal from room service because it would arrive quicker than a hot meal.
Judd said she was asked to give Weinstein a massage and then a shoulder rub, both of which she declined while trying to get herself out of the room.
That is when he asked her to help him pick out his clothes for the day and then watch him shower.
It was revealed on Thursday that he once asked Ashley Judd (left) if she would like to watch him shower during a meeting in his room at the Peninsula Beverly Hills and paid $100,000 to Rose McGowan (right) for an unknown incident shortly after she filmed her breakthrough role in the film ‘Scream.’
Crisis management: Weinstein dealt with questions by raising his hand to nearby reporters and asking them to talk to it
Tough to stomach: ‘I was with a bunch of other actors, and it was critical that it was actors: The exact same thing had happened to them by the exact same mogul,’ wrote Judd in 2015
‘I said no, a lot of ways, a lot of times, and he always came back at me with some new ask,’ said Judd.
‘It was all this bargaining, this coercive bargaining.’
She eventually made her escape by joking that Weinstein would have to help her win an Oscar before she would be willing to touch him, stating that the prestige of working for his studio made it too difficult to forcefully shut down his harassment.
‘There’s a lot on the line, the cachet that came with Miramax,’ explained Judd.
Judd previously wrote about the same experience in 2015 for Variety without naming Weinstein, simply saying it was a studio mogul.
‘I was with a bunch of other actors, and it was critical that it was actors: The exact same thing had happened to them by the exact same mogul,’ wrote Judd.
‘Only when we were sitting around talking about it did we realize our experiences were identical. There was a mutual strengthening and fortification of our resolve.’
She later wrote in that piece: ‘The ultimate thing when I was weaseling out of everything else was, “Will you watch me take a shower?” And all the other women, sitting around this table with me, said, “Oh my god—that’s what he said to me too.”‘