Following the scathing critique from Rose McGowan over her track record and her Oscars coat, Natalie Portman just released a statement in response.
“I agree with Ms. McGowan that it is inaccurate to call me ‘brave’ for wearing a garment with women’s names on it,” she wrote.
“Brave is a term I more strongly associate with actions like those of the women who have been testifying against Harvey Weinstein the last few weeks, under incredible pressure.”
Rose McGowan was one of Harvey Weinstein’s first public accusers.
Natalie Portman went on to address Rose McGowan who claimed that Portman has only worked with two female directors, one being herself:
“It is true I’ve only made a few films with women. In my long career, I’ve only gotten the chance to work with female directors a few times.
“I’ve made shorts, commercials, music videos and features; worked with Marya Cohen, Mira Nair, Rebecca Zlotowski, Anna Rose Holmer, Sofia Coppola, and Shirin Neshat.”
“Unfortunately, the unmade films I have tried to make are a ghost history”. Portman went on to describe the challenges that female filmmakers face “at every level”.
She said, “I have had the experience a few times of helping get female directors hired on projects; which they had to leave because of the conditions they faced at work.”
“After we make them, female-directed films face difficulty getting into festivals, getting distribution and getting accolades because of the gatekeepers at every level.”
“So I want to say, I have tried, and I will keep trying,” she said. “While I have not yet been successful, I am hopeful that we are stepping into a new day.”
You can read Portman’s full statement here.