Rebecca Hall finds herself reflecting on her past statement expressing remorse for participating in Woody Allen's film, "A Rainy Day in New York." In 2018, Hall played a minor role alongside stars such as Timothée Chalamet, Jude Law, and Elle Fanning in Allen's flick. Following revelations from Allen's daughter, Dylan Farrow, who accused him of sexually abusing her during her childhood, and the emergence of sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein, Hall publicly expressed regret for taking part in the movie. She penned on Instagram, "I realize not only the intricacies of this matter but also how my actions may have contributed to silencing and dismissing another woman. I regret this decision and wouldn't make the same choice today."
During a Sunday interview with The Guardian, the actress was prompted to share her current feelings about those remarks. "I grapple with this one. It's uncharacteristic of me to make a public statement on anything. I convey my politics through my work. I don't view myself as an 'activist-actor'; that's not my role. In hindsight, I somewhat regret making that statement because I don't believe it's the actors' duty to address such situations," Hall confessed.
She vividly recounted her experiences on the set, specifically a street scene with Jude Law, where her line shockingly read, "You have to stop sleeping with these damned 15-year-old girls." Ironically, on that very day, the Weinstein scandal erupted, casting a dark shadow over the production. As Weinstein was the producer of the film, a throng of reporters and paparazzi were present, eavesdropping on her delivering such a contentious line. Inevitably, every interview concerning the moviesomehow reverted back to Allen and Weinstein, entangling Hall in a tangled web of controversy and scrutiny. "In that crucial juncture, believing the women's allegations was paramount. Admittedly, there are layers of complexities and subtle nuances embedded within these narratives, but we are diligently striving to restore balance and justice. Hence, I felt an overwhelming urge to make a clear and unequivocal statement," she shared, her voice laced with emotion.
Hall donated her salary to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund but lamented, "It turned into just another voice condemning Woody Allen and regretting working with him, which wasn't my intended message. I don't regret working with him. He provided me with a fantastic job opportunity and treated me kindly." She added, "I no longer communicate with him, but I don't think we should serve as judge and jury in this matter."
Asked how she would handle such a situation today, Hall responded, "I'd remain silent – my philosophy is to be an artist first. I don't believe sharing my thoughts openly is necessary. This doesn't reflect apathy or disengagement; it's just my job." During that period, "A Rainy Day in New York" actor Griffin Newman also donated his salary from the film to RAINN, the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network. That same month, director Kevin Smith contributed his residuals from movies funded by Harvey Weinstein to Women in Film, a nonprofit advocating for women in the entertainment industry. Meanwhile, Chalamet donated his salary to three charities: Time's Up, the LGBT Center in New York, and RAINN.
