Julia Stiles Reveals Harvey Weinstein’s Interference Made Her Feel ‘Slimy’

Julia Stiles recently spoke about her uncomfortable experience working with Harvey Weinstein on Down to You. She revealed that he interfered with the film and made unnecessary changes that, in her opinion, lowered its quality.

In an interview on the Films To Be Buried With podcast, Stiles explained that the film initially had a strong script. However, things changed when Weinstein got involved. “The director, Kris Isacsson, wrote the script. He was a first-time director and a very, very intelligent, capable guy. The script was very good. And then, Harvey Weinstein got his hands on it and decided to capitalize on this trend. And it just became dumb,” she said.

Weinstein Forced a Dance Scene

Furthermore, Stiles recalled that Weinstein insisted on adding a dance scene. He wanted to take advantage of her success in Save the Last Dance and 10 Things I Hate About You to attract audiences.

“They’re pouring money at it in stupid ways. So when we went and did reshoots, I was told that he [Weinstein] decided that because of the success of Save the Last Dance or the success of 10 Things I Hate About You, with me dancing on the pool table, he needed to have me dancing in the film. I love to dance, but it was dumb. It was like, ‘Okay, let’s get her on a pool table.’ It wasn’t even imaginative. And I felt so slimy doing it the whole time. I don’t know if that actually made it into the film, but it was annoying because I was like, this is so cheap, and it’s not adding to the story,” she explained.

Weinstein Defends His Decision

In response to her claims, Weinstein, who is currently in prison, defended his actions. In a statement to the Daily Beast, he justified his decision.

“Julia Stiles is a talented and charismatic actress who naturally connects with audiences. Beyond her acting skills, she’s also a fantastic dancer, which was something fans really wanted at the time. I included that scene in Down to You to enhance the film’s appeal, and her chemistry with Freddie Prinze Jr. made it work seamlessly,” he stated.

Additionally, Weinstein mentioned casting Stiles in another project. “As a filmmaker, I’ve always sought ways to elevate a project, and when I see an opportunity to make a film better, I take it. That same instinct led David O. Russell and me to cast Julia in Silver Linings Playbook, where she once again delivered a standout performance,” he added.

Weinstein’s Downfall

Over the years, Weinstein wielded significant power in Hollywood. However, during the #MeToo movement, numerous women accused him of sexual assault and harassment. As a result, he is currently serving time in prison and facing a retrial for previously overturned rape convictions.