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Game of Thrones actor Lena Headey says rejecting sex with Harvey Weinstein could have harmed her career.
The British star, who plays Cersei Lannister in the HBO series, told The Sunday Times that her refusal to have sex with the disgraced film producer saw a lack of roles offered to her by ths studio Miramax.
She said: “After he was discovered to be a slimeball, on a grander scale than me just knowing it, I did start thinking, ‘F***, maybe because I didn’t shag him, that’s impacted a decade of my working life’, because I did two jobs for Miramax [the film company founded by Weinstein] before those incidents, and after that there was nothing.”
Headey previously recounted two experiences she alleges she had with Weinstein in the wake of the scandal that saw him face dozens worth of sexual harassment and assault allegations, all of which he has denied.
She claims that the first time she met Weinstein was at the Venice Film Festival in 2005 where, after taking her for a walk by the water, he “made some suggestive comment and gesture”.
#MeToo movement – In picturesShow all 24 1 /24#MeToo movement – In pictures #MeToo movement – In pictures 2017 A picture shows the messages "#Me too" and #Balancetonporc ("expose your pig") on the hand of a protester during a gathering against gender-based and sexual violence called by the Effronte-e-s Collective, on the Place de la Republique square in Paris
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2018 An activist participates in the 2018 #MeToo March in Hollywood
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2017 Victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual abuse and their supporters protest during a #MeToo march in Hollywood
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2018 Dozens of women and men attend a rally and march in Washington Square Park
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2017 People carry signs addressing the issue of sexual harassment at a #MeToo rally outside of Trump International Hotel
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2018 Activists and advocates for survivors of sexual abuse gather in the Federal Building Plaza to protest the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh
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Headey ran into Weinstein in Los Angeles years later where she alleges he kept asking her questions about her love life. Headey said that, when Weinstein invited her to his hotel room to show her a script, the “energy shifted”.
The actor says she said to the producer, “I’m not interested in anything other than work, please don’t think I got in [the lift] with you for any other reason.”
She claims that he later whispered in her ear: “Don’t tell anyone about this, not your manager, not your agent.”
Headey will reprise her role in the final season of Game of Thrones , which begins on HBO and Sky Atlantic in April. A season eight theory currently doing the rounds suggests her character Cersei may be the surprise saviour of Westeros in the battle with the White Walkers.
She will next be seen in in family comedy Fighting with My Family .
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