British actress Honeysuckle Weeks has shared her concerns over the Time’s Up anti-sexual harassment movement.
The former Foyle’s War star warned women need to be “a bit careful” and said it was “dangerous” that people were discussing minor harassment alongside serious sexual assault.
Time’s Up – which was prompted by the Me Too campaign and revelations against producer Harvey Weinstein – has dominated the award season after attendees wore black to both the Golden Globes and Baftas in solidarity with victims of sexual harassment.
Weeks, 38, told the Press Association: “I think women have to be a bit careful.
“Any minute now they’re going to find out that no one wants them to dance … God forbid the frisson between the sexes should be lost because everyone’s too terrified.”
“I think it’s dangerous that people are putting in minor indiscretions with serious assault.”
Weeks, who is starring in the West End premiere of Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, said of the Bafta’s blackout: “There wasn’t a shred of make-up on anyone.”
She added she was in support of Frances McDormand’s stance who, when collecting her leading actress Bafta in a brightly-printed dress, told the audience of black gowns and tuxes: “I have a little trouble with compliance.”
There’s snow on the ground but both performances of #TheBestMan are due to go ahead today as scheduled! If you’re travelling into Central London to see us please take care and allow extra time. pic.twitter.com/k0GOrYMKDo
— Playhouse Theatre (@ThePlayhouseLDN) March 1, 2018
The actress plays the wife of US presidential candidate, Joseph Cantwell (Jeff Fahey), in Vidal’s political drama which was written and produced on Broadway nearly 60 years ago.
Weeks said: “It’s interesting to play a woman, whose power, as every woman’s power was, is distinctly limited to her appearance.
“And her power to back up her man and be there for him. Because within that limitation there are areas in which you can look your best. Not to try and look your best at that time as a woman, was tantamount to disrespect to your husband.
“These days it’s not such a big deal and also with this new wind of like women all wearing black and it’s nice to look back at a time when women were allowed to be decorative.”
Weeks added: “She’s edgy and I think she’s very much based on Gore Vidal’s mother who was a socialite and very intelligent but limited in that she couldn’t join in the politics, she did but not in an active role.”
Martin Shaw, Jack Shepherd, Maureen Lipman and Glynis Barber also star in The Best Man which is running at the Playhouse Theatre now.