Ahead of UK film awards, stars seek end to sexual harassment

Feminist activists and anti-violence campaigners are set to mix with the stars on the red carpet (Shutterstock)

LONDON — Almost 200 British female entertainment stars called for an international movement to end sexual misconduct across society in a letter published ahead of Sunday’s British Academy Film Awards.

Kate Winslet, Kristin Scott Thomas, Emma Thompson, Naomie Harris, Emma Watson and Gemma Arterton are among those saying that 2018 should be “the year that time was up on sexual harassment and abuse.

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Announcing a fund to support women and men battling workplace abuse — modeled on the “Time’s Up” movement in the U.S. — the stars said “with our collective power, we can galvanize others.”

Feminist activists and anti-violence campaigners are set to mix with the stars on the red carpet Sunday for the awards at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Many female guests are expected to wear black, as tremors from abuse revelations rumble through the awards season.

Allegations of sexual harassment and abuse have been levelled at scores of entertainment figures since women began coming forward to accuse Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein last year.

The issue has crossed the Atlantic, where the Old Vic Theatre has been rocked by allegations against former artistic director Kevin Spacey. London police are also investigating nine claims of sexual assault by Weinstein.

In a letter published in The Observer newspaper, 190 female stars called for an end to impunity for abusers and said “this movement is bigger than just a change in our industry alone.”

“We believe we need to use our power as communicators and connectors to shift the way society sees and treats us,” they said. “We need to examine the kind of womanhood our industry promotes and sells to the world.

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Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge will also be in the audience Sunday night — and many people will be watching to see whether Kate joins in wearing black to support the fight against sexual abuse.

“Absolutely Fabulous” star Joanna Lumley will host the awards ceremony, where the monster fantasy “The Shape of Water,” the tragi-comedy “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and the World War II flag-waver “Darkest Hour” are the front-runners.

All three are up for best film, alongside the sun-drenched romance “Call Me By Your Name” and the World War II drama “Dunkirk.”

Gary Oldman is the favourite to take the best-actor trophy for his Golden Globe-winning portrayal of British wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill in “Darkest Hour.” He’s up against fellow Brits Daniel Day-Lewis for “Phantom Thread,” Daniel Kaluuya for “Get Out” and Jamie Bell for “Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool,” as well as American actor Timothee Chalamet for “Call Me By Your Name.”

The best-actress race is an international contest, pitting American Frances McDormand as a bereaved mother in “Three Billboards” against Britain’s Sally Hawkins for “The Shape Of Water,” Irish actress Saoirse Ronan for “Lady Bird,” U.S. star Annette Bening for “Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool” and Australia’s Margot Robbie for “I, Tonya.”

Ridley Scott, whose films include “Blade Runner,” “Alien,” “Thelma and Louise” and “Gladiator,” is set to receive the academy’s highest honour, the BAFTA Fellowship.

The British trophies, known as BAFTAs, are considered a key indicator of likely success at Hollywood’s Oscars in two weeks’ time.