in the wake of Sciorra’s alleged attack. A few parts did come
her way, but it wasn’t until 2001 when Sciorra appeared
on The Sopranos that audiences sat up and took notice
once again. An Emmy nomination followed this career
redefining performance as Gloria, which showcased her
ability to play a confident woman who seemingly had it all
but was teetering on the edge of self-destruction.
Since the revelations, the women that had been labelled
‘difficult’ are being hired again. However, the perfect
Hollywood ending is far from guaranteed. Certainly, the
landscape and power balance has shifted over the last few
years, but the true extent of how much has changed is
unclear as various legal battles rage on in criminal and civil
court (at the time of writing, Weinstein is on trial in New York
City, a second criminal case will follow in Los Angeles). It is
impossible to measure exactly what has been lost – both
personally and professionally – and what would constitute
victory for the women seeking justice. Nevertheless,
nagging questions about the loss of significant roles in
era-defining movies have since come to light.
In some cases, what could be dismissed as paranoia-
laced fear has been corroborated by a director who was
swayed by the apparent smear campaign. “I recall Miramax
telling us they were a nightmare to work with and we
should avoid them at all costs,” revealed Peter Jackson
after he had shown interest in casting Mira Sorvino and
Ashley Judd in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Taking these
claims at face value meant Jackson immediately dismissed
the pair from consideration. Gossip has long been wielded
as a weapon by Hollywood moguls to silence, shame,
intimidate and destroy careers.
Often forgettable television and minor movie roles
helped pay the bills when the leading lady offers dried up.
Sorvino spoke of the financial toll to The LA Times regarding
the alleged blacklisting after the Oscar win, “Because that’s
when I had the biggest potential to solidify my career as
a leading lady, and to make the kind of economic strides
that would have secured my family forever. And we’ve had
some lean years over the last 10 years.” It isn’t just a case
of losing out on personally fulfilling parts, but also the job
security that comes with plaudits and visibility.
While the television industry itself isn't free of sexual
predators, for the movie actors who saw their careers
destroyed by Weinstein it’s television that now provides a
chance for them to reinvigorate their stalled careers and
remind audiences of their gifts. The landscape has changed
over the last 20 years, and television is no longer viewed
with disdain or as a distant second-best to film. As the
golden age of television gets set to head into yet another
decade, many former film stars who've found prestigious
work for the small screen must be questioning whether
a splashy return to film would even be desirable. Ashley
Judd received an Emmy nomination in 2012 for mystery
thriller mini-series, Missing, as well as appearing in the
critically lauded Twin Peaks: The Return. Along with the
aforementioned Sopranos career jolt, Sciorra has recently
guest starred on GLOW, Daredevil and Luke Cage, as well
as landing a recurring role on the Apple TV+ series Truth
Be Told. And Daryl Hannah starred in the beloved (and
cancelled-too-soon) Netflix sci-fi series Sense8.
Ryan Murphy is one of the most prolific TV producers
of the 21st century and has recently signed a multi-million
dollar deal with Netflix. Two of his forthcoming projects
have cast high-profile Weinstein accusers, joining his
ever-expanding acting troupe. Arquette will appear in
Ratched – an origin story based on the ‘One Flew Over the
Cuckoo’s Nest’ character of the same name. The allure and
perils of fame are often at the heart of Murphy’s work, and
Hollywood is no different, with Sorvino tapped to guest-
star. Set in the 1940s, Murphy has described Hollywood
as, “a love letter to the Golden Age of Tinseltown,” and
that it will explore how, “everything has changed and
nothing has changed.” Before this, Sorvino flexed her
comedic chops on sitcom Modern Family as a Gwyneth
Paltrow-esque lifestyle guru.
This is not the final act of a gritty but ultimately uplifting
tale of triumph in the face of adversity with a central
performance guaranteed to garner an Oscar nomination,
causing the audience to weep tears of joy at how far we
have come. Rather, someone needs to be held accountable,
even if there is no form of recompense. Shifting the focus
back to those who had their names tarnished is one way
to reclaim lost time. Years have likely been snatched
away from the talented women deemed “difficult”, and
while there is no quantifiable way to measure the overall
impact of the blacklisting claims, the code has now been
broken and this terminology takes on new meaning.
The tenacious reporters who wouldn’t be intimidated
and the brave sources that made their voices heard
have started to break the cycle. It took a monolith like
Weinstein to be toppled for the entertainment industry
to take claims of workplace harassment seriously,
but how can Hollywood ensure this doesn’t happen
again? This is a story yet to be written025