British actress Julia Ormond is suing disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein, accusing him of sexually assaulting her in 1995.
Ormond, who starred in films alongside Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford in the 1990s, said she was a star on the rise when she met Weinstein in 1994.
The pair kept in touch to discuss scripts and projects, she said in the lawsuit, and entered into a production agreement with Miramax, where Weinstein was co-chairman.
Weinstein, 71, has been in prison for rape and sexual assault since 2020, but was convicted of another rape last year. He has appealed both convictions.
Ormond has accused him of sexual battery, referring to an incident in December 1995 following a meeting – and then hindering her career after she confronted him weeks later.
The Legends Of The Fall actress claims she had told her agents in the US at the time, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), but got no support. She is suing CAA, Walt Disney Co. and Miramax, accusing them of failing to stop him.
The filing states: “None of these prominent companies warned Ormond that Weinstein had a history of assaulting women because he was too important, too powerful, and made them too much money.”
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Ormond had previously talked about being the victim of sexual assault – notably in an interview with Variety magazine – but this is the first time she has publicly accused Weinstein.
She filed the case in state Supreme Court in Manhattan under the Adult Survivors Act, which was passed last year to allow a temporary window for those who allege sexual assault to file past normal deadlines.
Weinstein’s attorney Imran Ansari said his client “categorically denies the allegations made against him by Julia Ormond and he is prepared to vehemently defend himself”.
CAA, Disney and Miramax have been approached for comment.
