Kate Beckinsale has shared harrowing accounts of mistreatment and belittlement throughout her career in a heartfelt social media post.
In a video posted on Instagram Monday, the Pearl Harbor actor described a series of incidents involving groping, injuries, insults, and being coerced into a photoshoot shortly after experiencing a miscarriage. Beckinsale refrained from naming individuals or productions involved but painted a troubling picture of her experiences in the entertainment industry.
One anecdote involved a perpetually intoxicated male co-star who frequently delayed production, leaving Beckinsale and the crew waiting for hours while he struggled to learn his lines. When she voiced concerns about the behavior, she was met with hostility and derogatory labels, including “bitch” and a “cunt,” from crew members.
Beckinsale also described being placed in unsafe working conditions on two separate movie sets, resulting in at least one injury during a choreographed fight scene. She alleged that some male co-stars appeared to derive satisfaction from being able to “legally” harm women in such scenarios.
At just 18 years old, she said, a crew member “felt her up,” an incident she tried to share with two female co-stars who dismissed her concerns. In another distressing account, Beckinsale revealed she was “forced” to participate in a photo shoot the day after a miscarriage while still “bleeding out.” She claimed a publicist threatened legal action if she refused to comply.
Reflecting on these experiences, Beckinsale stated, “This has been going on forever. I’ve got 47 million stories similar to this.”
Her revelations come amid allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct in the entertainment industry. Beckinsale’s post followed It Ends With Us star Blake Lively’s accusations against director and co-star Justin Baldoni, who has denied the claims and announced plans to file a counterclaim against Lively’s 80-page legal complaint.
Blake Lively poses for photographers at the UK Gala Screening for 'It Ends With Us' on Aug. 8 in London.
Although Beckinsale clarified that she has no personal connection to Lively or Baldoni and no knowledge of what transpired on the set of It Ends With Us, she expressed gratitude for Lively’s courage. Beckinsale highlighted the systemic challenges faced by women in the industry, saying, “I’m grateful to [Lively] for calling attention to this machine that goes into effect when a woman complains about something legitimately offensive, upsetting, harmful—whatever—in this industry.”
The English actor’s testimony adds to a growing chorus of voices demanding change in Hollywood’s culture and treatment of women.
