Actor Ray Winstone has recounted an incident from early in his career where he intervened after witnessing a director allegedly grope a female co-star. Winstone, 69, stated in a recent interview with The Times Culture Magazine that he "slapped and threatened" the director.
Winstone, known for his roles in films such as "Scum" (1979), "Nil By Mouth" (1997), and "The Departed" (2006), described the event during a scene where he was working with a young, seemingly lost actress. According to Winstone, the director was demonstrating a scene by "groping her." Winstone stated he immediately told the director, "Don't you dare do that," and added that the director "abused his power, took advantage."
When asked how the situation was resolved, Winstone indicated that in his early career, such misconduct was often handled by film crews. He said, "Well, back in the day, if there was a wrong 'un on set, 99 times out of 100 it was sorted, either by the hairy-a**e riggers or sparks." Winstone admitted he had also taken action himself, confronting individuals on set to ensure they behaved. He concluded this reflection by stating, "But it's a different world today."
Winstone is set to appear in the upcoming second season of Netflix's "The Gentlemen," where he plays Bobby Glass. The series also stars Theo James and Kaya Scodelario. The trailer for the new season was recently released, detailing Eddie's (James) ambition to regain control of his estate amidst the criminal underworld overseen by Bobby Glass. The plot hints at Eddie and Susie's (Scodelario) desire to expand their operation, possibly into marijuana decriminalization, which Bobby may or may not support.
The series has also been in the news regarding casting. Reports surfaced that Meghan Markle had been offered a role in the third season, but the offer was reportedly withdrawn due to intense backlash. Royal author Tina Brown cited the "intense" reaction as making the casting "untenable."
Regarding his own career plans, Winstone humorously remarked, "Well, you've got to pay the taxman, haven't you?" when asked about slowing down.
