Kate Winslet’s new movie, Wonder Wheel, debuted at the New York Film Festival on Friday.
Some film critics claim Winslet has joined the race for the Oscar’s Best Actress award for her portrayal of Ginny, a 40-year-old frustrated wife and mum working as a waitress while dreaming about her glory days as a struggling actress.
Wonder Wheel is set in 1950s Coney Island and co-stars Justin Timberlake as a lifeguard who wants to be a poet.
However, many people will never see Winslet in what could be one of the defining roles of her career.
You see, Wonder Wheel is Woody Allen’s latest film and in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal, people are taking a stand.
In 1992, Allen was accused of sexually assaulting his then seven-year-old adoptive daughter, Dylan Farrow, in their Connecticut home.
Since then Allen has directed countless films which have received widespread critical acclaim.
For the biggest TV and movie news of the week, listen to The Binge podcast.
When the New York Times recently asked Winslet her opinion on the allegations against Allen , she replied as an actress she has to “step away” from them.
“Of course one thinks about it,” Winslet said. “But at the same time, I didn’t know Woody and I don’t know anything about that family.
“As the actor in the film, you just have to step away and say, I don’t know anything, really, and whether any of it is true or false.”
Top Comments
I am totally behind all this speaking out of sexual assault. It's like the wool has been pulled (and hopefully not just the 'hot right now' moment) from society's eyes and all what we have previously thought of as just normal behaviour is seen for what it is. Assault and harrassment on people who are considered unequal.
Having said all that, for this whole time, the jury is still out for me with the Woody Allen situation. I have read extensively on what has been said on both sides (as much as a outsider can) and yeah, while his relationship with Soon Yi seemed a little creepy, when you find out that some facts (that they never had a father/daughter relationship and were practically strangers) you just have to refrain from judgement. Well I do and I think this is what Kate is saying.
Kate really seems like an intelligent, critical thinker. And a feminist. As well as Cate Blanchett (who also had to defend herself after starring in Blue Jasmine). They just don't seem to be the type to work with someone who is a known sexual predator/offender. Also Mia and her daughter are the only ones who have ever accused him. I know some people who read that will scoff and think so what? Once is enough but I don't know....Just with this one, I can't rush to think of this one as an offender. As I said the jury is still out for me on Woody.
I find it so hard to decide whether to separate the art from the artist. I recently went to the Dior exhibition in Melbourne where there were many beautiful gowns on display by John Galliano, a notorious anti-semite. Do I still love the gowns and think they are divine? Yes. Do I think he's an asshole and Dior were justified in firing him? Absolutely.