Thandie Newton reveals she was groomed by an older film director when she was 16

Thandie Newton has revealed that she was groomed by an older film director when she was 16 and starting her career.

The 47-year-old actress opened up about her damaging experience with a filmmaker more than twice her age, and also revealed that she was asked to do sexually inappropriate things when she was 18.

‘When I set out in the adult world, I was pretty young – 16 was when I started working in movies,’ she told Vulture’s E. Alex Jung. ‘I had no sense of myself. One of the reasons why is because I was not considered anything.’

The screen star continued: ‘We didn’t talk about it at the time but the damage was so done. It just made me super-vulnerable to predators. There’s so much about not having a sense of my value.’

Thandie’s ordeal led to her feeling as though she was being ‘passed around’, adding: ‘If you’re a young black girl and you get raped, in the film ­business, no one’s going to f***ing care. You can tell whoever the f*** you want and they’ll call it an ­affair.

Until people start taking this ­seriously, I can’t fully heal. There are so many problems to feeling ­disenfranchised. I keep finding myself alone.’

Exploited: The 47-year-old actress opened up about her damaging experience with a filmmaker more than twice her age. Seen in an undated photo taken early on in her career

In the same interview, the star also gave a candid insight into the dramatic nature of working with Tom Cruise on Mission: Impossible II in 2000.

The British actress played Tom’s character Ethan Hunt’s love interest Nyah Nordoff‑Hall in the movie two decades ago, and she shed light on feeling ‘terrified and insecure’ on-set of the movie.

Thandie revealed she then called late director Jonathan Demme, who she worked with on Beloved and The Truth About Charlie, to seek advice after which he scolded her for not ‘backing herself’ and made her realise Tom wanted a ‘alpha b***h’. 

Vulnerable: The screen star said, ‘We didn’t talk about it at the time but the damage was so done. It just made me super-vulnerable to predators.’ Pictured in 1991

However, while she admitted to feeling ‘scared’ of ‘dominant’ Tom Cruise, she also insisted that he wasn’t a ‘horrible’ person, just ‘really stressed’ on the set.  

Thandie’s interview comes after the star revealed she is finally enjoying the kind of career boost she expected to have in her twenties.

The actress has become a household name thanks to the success of HBO’s sci-fi drama Westworld, with her character Maeve taking on a pivotal role in season three. She divulged: ‘Thanks to Westworld, I’ve become an action hero – at my age!… 

‘I’m flabbergasted! I feel like I’m in my prime, and my 40s are great, man, but why didn’t this happen in my 20s? It’s the complete reverse of what it should be’.

Tough times: Thandie also gave a candid insight into the dramatic nature of working with Tom Cruise on Mission: Impossible II in 2000 (pictured at the London premiere in July 2000)

Way back when: The British actress played Tom’s character Ethan Hunt’s love interest Nyah Nordoff‑Hall in the movie two decades ago

Thandie, who is also known for her role in 2004’s Crash, went on to describe the physical requirements of playing her character in Westworld. 

Likening the experience to being in the military, the brunette explained that she has to remain as fit as possible throughout filming. 

Thandie’s character Maeve began the series as a robotic ‘host’ brothel-owner within the Westworld theme park.

Thanks to a glitch in her programming, the sassy saloon-owner begins to gain consciousness and eventually realises she’s part of a scripted storyline.  

‘Why didn’t this happen in my 20s?’ Her comments about her co-star come after Thandie revealed she is finally enjoying the kind of career boost she expected to have in her twenties