Actor Julia Stiles recently shared her uncomfortable experience working with Harvey Weinstein on the 2000 film Down to You. She said Weinstein forced a dance scene into the film during reshoots, making her feel "slimy."

Julia Stiles Describes Weinstein's Interference

In an interview on the Films To Be Buried With podcast, Stiles explained how Weinstein changed the film. As a result, she believed his interference lowered the movie’s quality. "It was a time when teen rom-coms were really popular. The director, Kris Isacsson, wrote the script. He was a first-time director and a very, very intelligent, capable guy. The script was very good. And then, Harvey Weinstein got his hands on it and decided to capitalize on this trend. And it just became dumb," she said.

Weinstein Forced a Dance Scene

Stiles recalled that Weinstein wanted to capitalize on her success in Save the Last Dance and 10 Things I Hate About You by adding a dance scene to Down to You. "They're pouring money at it in stupid ways. So when we went and did reshoots, I was told that he [Weinstein] decided that because of the success of Save the Last Dance or the success of 10 Things I Hate About You, with me dancing on the pool table, he needed to have me dancing in the film. I love to dance, but it was dumb. It was like, ‘Okay, let's get her on a pool table.’ It wasn't even imaginative. And I felt so slimy doing it the whole time. I don't know if that actually made it into the film, but it was annoying because I was like, this is so cheap, and it's not adding to the story," she added.

Weinstein Defends His Decision

Meanwhile, Weinstein, currently in prison, responded to Stiles’ comments in a statement to The Daily Beast. "Julia Stiles is a talented and charismatic actress who naturally connects with audiences. Beyond her acting skills, she's also a fantastic dancer, which was something fans really wanted at the time. I included that scene in Down to You to enhance the film's appeal, and her chemistry with Freddie Prinze Jr. made it work seamlessly," he wrote. He continued, "As a filmmaker, I've always sought ways to elevate a project, and when I see an opportunity to make a film better, I take it. That same instinct led David O. Russell and me to cast Julia in Silver Linings Playbook, where she once again delivered a standout performance."

Weinstein’s Legal Issues

Over the years, Weinstein has faced multiple sexual assault and harassment allegations, especially during the #MeToo movement. Consequently, he went from being a Hollywood powerhouse to a convicted criminal. Currently, he remains in prison and is undergoing a retrial after his previous rape convictions were overturned.