Hollywood’s Dark Side: Female Stars Recall Harrowing Experiences with Male Costars
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The glamour of Hollywood has long masked troubling stories behind the scenes, as several high-profile actresses have recently come forward to recount disturbing experiences with male co-stars. These revelations, spanning decades and genres, underscore ongoing concerns about misconduct and disrespect in the film industry.
Meryl Streep, one of the most celebrated actresses of her generation, shared a startling memory from her earliest days in the business. Reflecting on her first movie, she recounted, “This was my first movie, and it was my first take in my first movie, and he just slapped me.” This moment, emblematic of an era when boundaries were often ignored, highlights the challenges women faced even at the outset of their careers.
More recently, Margot Robbie described an unsettling encounter with an unnamed male co-star who gave her a weight-loss book titled Why French Women Don’t Get Fat without any prompting. Speaking to Complex’s GOAT Talk, Robbie said, “I was like, ‘Woah, fuck you, dude.’ He essentially gave me a book to let me know that I should lose weight.” Such unsolicited comments on appearance reflect a pervasive culture of body shaming that actresses have long battled.
Perhaps the most notorious example comes from Jared Leto’s time on the set of Suicide Squad. Known for his intense method acting, Leto reportedly sent his female co-stars disturbing gifts, including a box of bullets to Viola Davis and a live black rat to Margot Robbie. Davis told E! News, “It was a little worrisome. It made you a little bit nervous, and I’m pretty tough.” Fellow cast members also expressed discomfort; Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje revealed Leto sent used condoms and Playboy magazines, while Will Smith commented on Leto’s unwavering commitment to his Joker persona.
Despite Leto’s later defense in Entertainment Weekly that his actions were meant in good fun and part of his artistic process, many cast members found the behavior unsettling. Viola Davis described an introduction involving a dead pig placed on a table by one of Leto’s associates, a moment that left the cast “terrified.”
Another troubling account comes from Bella Thorne, who publicly accused Mickey Rourke of misconduct on the set of Girl. Thorne alleged that during a scene where her hands were zip-tied, Rourke used a metal grinder on her genital area through her jeans, causing bruises. She described additional humiliating experiences, including being covered in dirt during a scene and having to negotiate with Rourke alone to complete filming. Rourke’s representatives responded through Variety, stating that the actor “adamantly denies any intentional misconduct” and that he was unaware of Thorne’s discomfort during production. They emphasized his willingness to cooperate with any appropriate inquiry.
These stories are part of a broader reckoning within Hollywood, where calls for safer, more respectful work environments have gained momentum. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides guidelines to ensure safe workplaces, including film sets, but enforcement and cultural change remain ongoing challenges.
The accounts from Streep, Robbie, Davis, Thorne, and others reveal a persistent pattern of male actors behaving in ways that undermine the safety and dignity of their female colleagues. As the industry continues to evolve, these testimonies serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of accountability and respect in all professional settings.
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