Dame Judi Dench defends the work by Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey
The Academy Award winning actress condemned their behaviour
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Dame Judi Dench has defended the work by disgraced Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.
The multi-award-winning stage and film actor has not been shy about speaking in defence of her close friend Kevin Spacey – who has been accused of multiple sexual assault allegations.
And while the Skyfall actor condemned the behaviour of Spacey and disgraced film mogul Weinstein, she defended their work and expressed sadness that her friends are being shunned from the big screen.
She told Radio Times: “What kind of agony is that?
“Are we going to negate 10 years at the Old Vic and everything that he did [Spacey was the artistic director from 2004 to 2015] – how wonderful he’s been in all those films?
“Are we just not going to see all those films that Harvey produced?
“You cannot deny somebody a talent. You might as well never look at a Caravaggio painting [he was a murderer].
“You might as well never have gone to see Noel Coward [he was accused of predatory behaviour].”
Spacey faced numerous allegations of sexual harassment, including from fellow actor Anthony Rapp who first came forward claiming the actor had made a pass at him when he was only 14 years old.
As well as Rapp, Spacey is facing allegations from filmmaker Tony Montana and eight former and current crew members.
Following the allegations, Spacey used this to reveal his sexuality, angering the LGBT community.