Hollywood has always been a place where talent shines, but it’s also where controversies bubble up like a pot of water on the stove. This was never more apparent than when several prominent stars, including Kate Winslet and Timothée Chalamet, openly expressed regret over their collaborations with the once-celebrated yet now-controversial director, who faced serious accusations from his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, about s*xual abuse dating back to 1992.
Winslet, who starred in Wonder Wheel (2017), and Chalamet, who worked with Allen on A Rainy Day in New York (2019), have publicly acknowledged the discomfort of their past decisions. Meanwhile, Rebecca Hall is doing a little soul-searching.
In 2018, Hall said she was “profoundly sorry” for her involvement with Allen in Vicky Cristina Barcelona and A Rainy Day in New York. But now, she’s reconsidering that apology.
Rebecca Hall Rethinks Her Public Apology for Collaborating with Woody Allen?
Sometimes, making the right choice can feel like navigating a minefield. For Rebecca Hall, that choice became even trickier after working with Woody Allen, a director surrounded by serious allegations of s*xual abuse.
In 2018, amid the widespread outcry over Allen’s past, Hall made a heartfelt apology, admitting (via PEOPLE):
That is not something that sits easily with me in the current or indeed any moment, and I am profoundly sorry. I regret this decision and wouldn’t make the same one today.
But in a recent interview with The Guardian, Morgan Spector’s wife, 42, confessed that she now feels uneasy about her previous public apology.
I kind of regret making that statement, because I don’t think it’s the responsibility of his actors to speak to that situation.
The actress clarified that, despite her feelings about making a public statement, she still doesn’t regret her experience working with Allen. “He gave me a great job opportunity and he was kind to me,” she said, while also acknowledging she no longer has a relationship with the director.
In 1992, Allen was publicly accused by his former wife, Mia Farrow, of s*xually abusing their adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow. The allegation made waves in the media, triggering widespread attention, but he has not been charged with any crimes and has consistently denied the allegations (see The Independent).
Kate Winslet, Timothée Chalamet & Others Who Expressed Regret Working With Woody Allen
Hollywood has a long history of stars who shine on screen, but sometimes stumble when it comes to their choices off-screen. For many actors, working with Woody Allen has turned out to be one such misstep.
In the case of Colin Firth, who starred in Allen’s Magic in the Moonlight (2013), the regret came a little earlier. The actor worked with the director before the explosive allegations made by Dylan Farrow came to light. But after hearing Farrow’s allegations and seeing the broader conversation unfold, Firth made it clear he wouldn’t work with Allen again.
Speaking to The Guardian, he said:
I wouldn’t work with him again.
Timothée Chalamet, who starred in A Rainy Day in New York (2019), has also been in the spotlight for his involvement with Allen. Despite being unable to speak directly about his reasons due to contractual obligations, Chalamet found a way to make his stance clear. In an Instagram post (via Elle), the actor reflected on how his perspective had evolved, noting:
I am learning that a good role isn’t the only criteria for accepting a job—that has become much clearer to me in the past few months, having witnessed the birth of a powerful movement intent on ending injustice, inequality and above all, silence.
But perhaps the most candid reflection came from Kate Winslet, who didn’t hold back when talking about her past collaborations with Allen and Roman Polanski. Speaking to Vanity Fair, she described her feelings about working with both directors as a moment of reckoning:
It’s like, what the f–k was I doing working with Woody Allen and Roman Polanski?
These statements from Winslet, Chalamet, and Firth reflect a larger shift in Hollywood, where actors are increasingly questioning their past collaborations with individuals who later faced serious allegations. As for Rebecca Hall, her reassessment of the public apology she made in 2018 further underscores this shifting perspective.
While she once expressed deep regret for working with Woody Allen, Hall now feels conflicted about taking public responsibility for his actions.
