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Julia Ormond, who starred in films alongside the likes of Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford in the 1990s, filed a lawsuit Wednesday accusing disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein of sexually assaulting her in 1995 and then hindering her career.
Ormond, who also accuses the Walt Disney Company, Miramax and her former agents of knowing Weinstein was a problem but doing nothing about it, filed the case in state Supreme Court in Manhattan under the Adult Survivors Act, a law passed last year that allows a temporary window for those who allege sexual assault to file past the state's normal deadlines.
In her suit, Ormond says she was a star on the rise when she met Weinstein in 1994. She says she kept in touch with him to discuss scripts and projects, and in 1995, entered into a production agreement with Miramax, where he was co-chairman. She accuses him of committing sexual battery against her in December 1995 after a business meeting, and then retaliating against her and negatively affecting her career after she confronted him weeks later.
The British actress says she told her US agents at the time, Creative Artists Agency, but received no support and was advised not to take any legal action or other steps. She said in the lawsuit that CAA, Disney and Miramax knew Weinstein presented a danger to women but did nothing to stop him or to help her.
In a statement to Insider, Ormond said she's seeking "personal closure" through the lawsuit. She praised the Adult Survivors Act for allowing her to "shed light on how powerful people and institutions like my talent agents at CAA, Miramax and Disney enabled and provided cover for Weinstein to assault me and countless others."
"Our client has suffered tremendously both personally and professionally due to the assault by Harvey Weinstein, and the failure from Disney, Miramax and CAA to prevent it and to appropriately respond when she reported what happened," Ormond's lawyers Douglas H. Wigdor and Effie Blassberger said in a statement to Insider. "She feels completely betrayed by CAA for its knowing disregard for her safety and well-being, and looks forward to holding accountable the people and institutions that enabled Harvey Weinstein's horrific and predatory behavior."
Weinstein, 71, was convicted of rape and sexual assault in New York in 2020 and is serving a 23-year prison sentence in the state. Last year, he was convicted of another rape in Los Angeles and sentenced to an additional 16 years. He has appealed both convictions.
Weinstein attorney Imran Ansari said his client "categorically denies the allegations made against him by Julia Ormond and he is prepared to vehemently defend himself."
Emails seeking comment were sent to CAA, Disney and Miramax.
— Deepti Hajela and Andrew Dalton of the Associated Press contributed reporting.
