I am shocked I ignored Weinstein warnings: Iron Lady f ilm boss
THE award-winning writer of hit movie The Iron Lady has revealed how she carried on working with disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, despite hearing rumours years ago that he was a rapist.
Welsh screenwriter Abi Morgan, 50, admits in an interview for BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs today that she was ‘shocked’ by her failure to tackle Weinstein over the allegations, having worked with him on the 2011 Margaret Thatcher biopic.
Outspoken feminist Morgan was nominated for a Bafta for The Iron Lady, and also wrote Suffragette. She says: ‘I think everyone knew that he was a bully. I had heard he had been called a rapist and I look back now and I think, “Why did I never challenge that?”
‘I don’t want to excuse my behaviour because I think I have shocked myself actually in terms of the way you don’t listen to yourself and go, “This doesn’t feel entirely right.’”
The mother-of-two says Weinstein shielded himself from allegations of impropriety by projecting an image of Hollywood glamour that ‘corrupted’ those around him. ‘He threw great parties and that was incredibly corrupting and seductive.’
Morgan says her working relationship with the disgraced tycoon was very cordial. She believed he had an appreciation and a respect for women because he showed an interest in feminist work but she now realises that was ‘deceptive’.
Weinstein has been accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour by a string of actress. He says all encounters were consensual.