Actor Julia Stiles recently shared her unsettling experience collaborating with Harvey Weinstein on the 2000 film Down to You. She revealed that his peculiar requests for her to dance during reshoots left her feeling "slimy."

Julia Stiles recalls feeling ‘slimy’

In a recent discussion on the podcast Films To Be Buried with Brett Goldstein, Stiles revealed that Weinstein's involvement in the project led to unwarranted alterations that, in her opinion, diminished the film's overall quality.

"During that period, teen romantic comedies were extremely popular. The script was penned by the director, Kris Isacsson, who was making his directorial debut and was an exceptionally intelligent and capable individual. The script was quite strong. However, once Harvey Weinstein became involved, he aimed to exploit this trend, resulting in a less thoughtful product," she stated.

Stiles recounted that Weinstein sought to leverage her previous successes in films such as Save the Last Dance and 10 Things I Hate About You by insisting on the inclusion of a dance scene in Down to You.

"They were investing money in misguided ways. When we returned for reshoots, I was informed that he [Weinstein] believed that due to the popularity of Save the Last Dance and my dancing on the pool table in 10 Things I Hate About You, it was essential to have me dance in this film. While I enjoy dancing, it felt trivial. It was as if the idea was simply, ‘Let’s put her on a pool table.’ It lacked creativity, and I felt uncomfortable doing it throughout. I’m not sure if that scene made it into the final cut, but it was frustrating because it felt so superficial and did not contribute to the narrative," she added.

Harvey Weinstein reacts

In a statement issued from prison to the Daily Beast, Weinstein addressed her remarks and defended his conduct.

"Julia Stiles is an exceptionally talented and engaging actress who has a natural ability to connect with audiences. In addition to her acting prowess, she is also an outstanding dancer, which was a significant aspect that fans desired at that time. I incorporated that scene in Down to You to enhance the film's overall appeal, and her chemistry with Freddie Prinze Jr. contributed to its success," he stated.

"As a filmmaker, I have consistently sought opportunities to elevate my projects, and when I identify a chance to improve a film, I seize it. This same instinct prompted David O. Russell and me to cast Julia in Silver Linings Playbook, where she once again delivered an exceptional performance," he concluded.

Harvey Weinstein faced numerous allegations of sexual assault and harassment from women in the industry during the #MeToo movement. The once-dominant film executive is currently incarcerated while undergoing a retrial for previously overturned rape convictions.

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