There seem to be plenty of folks still out there defending the likes of Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, and the other Hollywood figures that were subjects of #MeToo accusations. While the majority appear to support the idea that these men should be held accountable for their actions, there are others that have voiced their concerns that these allegations and stories are taking away from the work these people contributed to film and TV. Apparently, one of those people is none other than Dame Judi Dench.
The Oscar-winning actress spoke up about Weinstein and Spacey, particularly, when she was talking to The Radio Times (via Deadline). When she was asked about Spacey being cut from the Ridley Scott film, “All the Money in the World,” after sexual assault allegations were made against him, Dench went on to defend her “good friend.”
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“What kind of agony is that?” asked Dench. “Are we going to negate 10 years at the Old Vic and everything that [Spacey] did [as artistic director] – how wonderful he’s been in all those films? Are we just not going to see all those films that Harvey produced?”
She continued, “You cannot deny somebody a talent. You might as well never look at a Caravaggio painting [the Renaissance painter was also a murderer]. You might as well never have gone to see Noël Coward [the Brit playwright was accused of predatory behavior].”
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Dench has defended Spacey in the past already and has worked with Weinstein previously. So, she has personal interactions with both men and feels like the reaction to the work done by both seems to be overkill.
The actress has recently appeared in the film “Red Joan.” She has two high-profile films on her slate coming up with the film adaptation of the musical “Cats,” as well as the Disney film “Artemis Fowl.”