Judi Dench feels that convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein has already “served his time” for rape and sexual assault.
Dench discussed the disgraced producer in a recent interview, suggesting that Weinstein may now be at a point where "forgiveness" could be considered, after his conviction for sex crimes.
“I saw a bit of film of Harvey walking with two sticks and you think, ‘Well… I knew Harvey, and I knew him well and worked with him,” she said during an interview with the Radio Times. “I had none of that experience – very fortunately for me.”
Dench added, “I imagine he’s done his time. I don’t know, to me it’s personal, forgiveness.”
On Monday (Dec 8), Weinstein released a statement in response to Dench’s support saying, “I have always been fond of Judi Dench. She is an extraordinary person who played an important role in my career.
"I’ve now spent more than six and a half years incarcerated, including a year and a half in Rikers, which counts as double time. … I am grateful for the kind words that have been expressed, and all I want is the chance to return to my family and children.”
The 90-year-old actress also talked about her friendship with Kevin Spacey in the interview, who has faced several allegations of sexual assault, noting that the two remain in contact.
“‘Kevin has been exonerated, and we stay in touch – we text,’ she said referring to the 2023 UK case where Spacey was acquitted on nine sexual assault charges. The L.A. Confidential actor still faces civil claims in Britain from three men who allege he sexually assaulted them.
As for Weinstein, he is currently serving a 16-year sentence for his 2022 convictions for sex crime charges in California.
His convictions in New York were overturned by the New York Court of Appeals in 2024. He was found guilty on one count of sexual assault in a split verdict at a retrial that took place this past summer, with the jury finding him not guilty of a second charge.
The judge granted a partial mistrial for a third charge, which the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in August expressed the intention to retry.
In 2017, Dench condemned the disgraced Hollywood producer when sexual assault allegations were initially made against him.
“Whilst there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past 20 years, I was completely unaware of these offenses which are, of course, horrifying,” Dench said at that time.
“And I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and wholehearted support to those who have spoken out.” – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
