Dame Judi Dench believes disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein has ‘done his time’ and deserves ‘forgiveness.’
Weinstein has been at the centre of rape or sexual misconduct allegations from more than 100 people, with some claims dating back to the 1970s.
The allegations sparked the Me Too movement, which highlighted sexual violence in the film industry, as well as worldwide.
Weinstein was initially convicted of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree in February 2020.
However, his 23-year sentence was overturned last year, sparking a three-week retrial in New York.
While speaking about her Quaker faith and forgiveness, she was asked by Radio Times if she could forgive good friends Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, who was cleared by courts in the UK and US of allegations of sexual assault.
‘Kevin has been exonerated, and I hear from Kevin, we text,’ she began.
‘I saw a bit of film of Harvey walking with two sticks, and you think, “Well…”
‘I knew Harvey, and I knew him well and worked with him, and I had none of that experience – very fortunately for me.
‘I imagine he’s done his time … I don’t know, to me it’s personal – forgiveness.’
When news of his crimes emerged in 2017, Bond star Dench dubbed them ‘horrifying’ as she condemned Weinstein.
She told Newsweek: ”Whilst there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past 20 years, I was completely unaware of these offences which are, of course, horrifying, and I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and wholehearted support to those who have spoken out.’
In 2019, Dench spoke out against a potential boycott of Weinstein films, saying: ‘You cannot deny somebody a talent.
‘You might as well never look at a Caravaggio painting. You might as well never have gone to see Noël Coward.’
In 2021, she reflected on working with Weinstein, who produced several projects she appeared in, including Shakespeare in Love, Chocolat, and Philomena.
‘I worked a lot for Harvey, a huge amount, and he was always completely charming,’ she told The Guardian.
‘Perhaps I was lucky, but that’s all I know. I feel very acutely for the people who weren’t so lucky.’
She went on to say she didn’t regret making any films with him, adding: ‘He was a friend.
‘He was a perfectly polite and funny, and friendly person. I never experienced Harvey in any other way than that. I knew nothing untoward about him at all. And nor was I warned.
‘So, of course, I can judge him. But I never experienced that other side of him at all.’
It comes after a judge declared a mistrial on the third-degree rape count in Harvey Weinstein’s ongoing sexual assault trial, after drama with the jury.
After a second round of hearings, the 73-year-old was convicted of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley in June and acquitted of a second charge stemming from sexual assault accusations made by Kaja Sokola.
The jury struggled to reach a unanimous verdict on a third count involving Jessica Mann and, after further deliberations failed, Judge Curtis Farber declared a mistrial.
Earlier this year, actress Julia Ormond was paid $5.75 million (£4.32million) by the Walt Disney Co after alleging she was assaulted by Weinstein.
Dench also admitted she worries about ‘losing the plot’ as she gave another update on her health and memory.
The legendary actress has candidly opened up about her fears, admitting that while she can still recall the works of William Shakespeare, she often forgets what she has planned for the next day.
In the new documentary Judi Dench: Shakespeare, My Family And Me, the star – who will celebrate her 91st birthday on Tuesday – reflected on how she often hopes she won’t ‘lose the plot’.
Asked if it’s something she worries about a lot, she told the Radio Times: ‘Oh yes, and I do now.’
She feels lucky to be able to remember Shakespeare, but day-to-day plans are more of a struggle for Dame Judi.
‘But I can’t remember what I’m doing tomorrow, I swear to you – just ask them,’ she said, pointing to her assistants who admit it ‘it can be true, yes’.
Meanwhile, the Shakespeare In Love star also gave an update on her declining sight, which has been impacted for years by age-related macular degeneration.
The condition – which is the number one cause of sight problems in people over the age of 50 – can cause permanent and rapid central vision loss.
Sitting close to the interviewer, Dame Judi told her she was ‘in a fog’, while she was suffering with both of her eyes being ‘wet’, which she described as a ‘crusher’.
Losing her independence by not being able to drive has been difficult, as has missing out on embroidery and simple activities as reading and watching TV.
Asked what she misses in particular, she said: ‘Well, I miss seeing Clive Myrie doing Mastermind, but I can hear the questions.’
The actress recently admitted she ‘can’t recognise anybody now’ as her sight continues to deteriorate, with her condition becoming so advanced that she now struggles to recognise friends and loved ones.
In a recent interview with ITV alongside her friend Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Judi was asked why she’s now rarely seen on screen.
‘I can’t see anymore. I’ve got, you know, that thing,’ she said, before adding to the Lord of the Rings icon: ‘I can see your outline and I know you so well in your Macbeth scarf. But I can’t recognise anybody now … I can’t see the television, I can’t see to read.’
Sir Ian then joked: ‘But do you go up to total strangers and say: “Lovely to see you again?’” and Judi replied: ‘Sometimes.’
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