Portman envisions opportunities lost
Forget Woody Allen, actress says, what about women, diversity, people with disabilities?
Natalie Portman dismissed an interview question about Woody Allen by saying the focus should remain on Hollywood’s history of gender inequality.
Buzzfeed asked the actress, promoting her new Netflix movie Annihilation, about Allen, whom she worked with on the 1996 movie Everyone Says I Love You.
Allen has recently faced renewed questions over adopted daughter Dylan Farrow’s claims that he molested her about 25 years ago — allegations the filmmaker has always strenuously denied.
Buzzfeed asked Portman a question that began, “I think time may be up for Woody Allen ... does it feel that way to you?”
“I don’t think that’s what the conversation should be about,” said Portman, 36.
“I think it should be about: Why didn’t Elaine May make a movie every year? Why didn’t Nora Ephron make a movie every year? Where’s the female version of Bill Cosby? Why don’t we see any Asian women in films?” said Portman, a vocal member of the #TimesUp movement against sexual harassment and gender inequality.
“There’s so much art that’s being lost by not giving opportunities to women and people of colour,” Portman said. “Let’s not talk about what man’s career is over. Let’s talk about the vast art trove we’ve lost by not giving women, people of colour, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community opportunities — let’s talk about that loss for all of us in art.
“Let’s talk about that huge hole in our culture,” Portman said. “I don’t want talk about ‘Isn’t it sad that this person who’s made 500 movies can’t make movies anymore?’ That’s not for me to decide. And it’s also not what I’m upset about.”
Portman also expressed her regret over signing a petition in support of director Roman Polanski in 2009.
She was among a list of stars, including Penelope Cruz, Harrison Ford and Martin Scorsese, who signed a document issued to the Swiss Federal Justice pleading for Polanski’s release from police custody.
“I very much regret it,” she said. “I take responsibility for not thinking about it enough. Someone I respected gave it to me, and said, ‘I signed this. Will you too?’ And I was like, ‘Sure.’ ”