ZELDA PERKINS took on her former boss, disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, twice — and after 24 years is beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.
“My belief in the power of right and the ultimate decency as well as frailty of human nature is being restored… and maybe even my belief in justice,” Perkins told an event.
She was just 24 in 1998 when she worked as Weinstein’s assistant. Her colleague alleged Weinstein tried to sexually assault her and when Perkins told film company Miramax, the matter was hushed up. Perkins signed a non-disclosure agreement, which meant she was unable to speak out until 2017, when further allegations surfaced and she decided to break the agreement.
“What started as a horrific period of subjugation and silence has become a surprisingly invigorating time,” Perkins explained at the event, adding, “the law let me down not once but twice, in 1998 and 2017”.
Now, as her campaign against NDAs gathers pace, she feels more hopeful. “It turns out that the cliché of finding my voice has in fact been the key to expanding my voice.”
Topic for ministers’ cosy dinner date?
CABINET ministers Liz Truss and Thérèse Coffey had dinner and drinks at a south-west London pub last night — coincidentally just as Boris Johnson begins another tough week in his premiership. Foreign Secretary Truss, who is now a favourite to succeed Boris Johnson, and Coffey enjoyed large glasses of white, The Londoner hears. Johnson was due to make a partygate statement to the Commons today and rumours of a leadership challenge still swirl… whatever can they have talked about?
Marian has Keyes to her homeland
NOVELIST Marian Keyes says there’s nowhere quite like her home country of Ireland. Returning recently, she got to passport control to find it deserted. “The man came haring out and said, ‘oh God you’re here, are you? We didn’t know the plane had landed’.” They spoke for a few minutes and then Keyes asked him: “Do you want to see my Covid certificate?” But, she tells Adam Buxton’s podcast, the man just replied, “ah no, go on, you’ve got an honest face”.
McKellen, you shall not pass!
BRIAN BLESSED had an earlier career in the props department, but the booming-voiced thesp wasn’t very good. “I would always make the doors too small, so actors got stuck in them,” he says. “I was bloody useless with wood, which is strange because my first ever professional job was making coffins.” Blessed thankfully later found his way on to the stage. The actor also has an idea for modern science. “We’ve got to find a needle to stick in the arse of Ian McKellen to keep him alive,” he tells The Stage. “I find him inspiring. I think he has so much to teach us.” Sir Ian might have something to say about that.
SW1A
BORIS JOHNSON seems to have one thing on his side: luck. Historian Tom Holland thinks Johnson believes he has “genius in the classical sense”, in that “fortune is looking after him”. “The number of times the cup has been dashed from his lips, only for it to be returned to him, is incredible,” he says. One more sip?
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HAPLESS Tory MP Ben Bradley has got into a tangle yet again, this time in an argument over the constitution. Bradley declared this morning: “Technically we’re an Absolute Monarchy,” before deleting the tweet. He previously had to donate to charity after making false claims about Jeremy Corbyn’s links to Cold War spies.
Ark at this: Design duo launch eco sci-fi film
DESIGNERS Vin + Omi hosted a special screening of their new film Kepler 62f last night. Attending were Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Queen’s Roger Taylor along with his wife Sarina at the Curzon Sea Containers on the South Bank. Also there were Craig Robertson and Leigh Morrison. The film imagines humanity leaving a dying Earth for a potentially habitable alternative. About as cheery as things get these days, we suppose.
