Mira Sorvino & Susan Sarandon Talk Weinstein Career-Stifling at ’90s Con

Mira Sorvino, known best for her roles in Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion and the 1995 Woody Allen film Mighty Aphrodite, for which she won an Oscar, opened up about her life in Hollywood this weekend at ’90s Con, on a panel hosted by People‘s editor-in-chief Wendy Naugle. Alongside Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, the actress discussed the trajectory of her career, which took a big hit after she rejected several advances by the now-infamous producer. “For a time, I had a lot of wonderful offers and then, my career was stifled by Harvey Weinstein,” she said, tearing up. “So, I stopped doing [major] studio movies after 1998.”

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Sorvino was one of many actresses who came forward with allegations against Weinstein, who was found guilty of rape and sexual assault in 2020, and received a 23-year sentence that has since increased by 16 years.

“I stopped being a viable movie actress,” she said. “I still did indies and I still did television, but that was very hard. But then, I got married. I became a mother,” she continued. “I became a UN Goodwill Ambassador in Human Trafficking. It’s a position I’ve held since 2009, officially. But yeah, my family. My family is my everything and I don’t see my worth as being a famous actress. I see my worth as being a good person.”

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“I don’t think people talk enough about the people who facilitated the Harvey Weinsteins of the world that are still functioning that are equally responsible,” added Susan Sarandon. “[People who] knew when they were sending people to a hotel, who didn’t pay attention when someone complained.

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“Sexualization is like a mainstay of this business. So it’s very confusing to be a young girl and know that they’re checking on your viability, according to how sexy you are,” Sarandon continued. “They call it a chemistry thing or whatever they want to call it. But that is part of what you’re bringing to the table. Whether you like that or not, that exists. There was this big flourish of this whole thing and then Harvey Weinstein, thank God, was punished against all odds. But I don’t think we’ve done the cleanup afterwards that we should be doing.”

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February 2021

1990s Rom-Coms

Pop some popcorn and cozy up to feel-good movies and TV shows from a generation ago.

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