In a shocking revelation, renowned actress Jane Seymour has opened up about her distressing experience with s**ual harassment early in her career.
Speaking on the Australian TV morning show Sunrise, the star of “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” shared how her encounter with a powerful producer during her first audition in Hollywood nearly pushed her to give up acting altogether.
Seymour admitted that she had hesitated for a long time before deciding to share her story.
She recounted how, after coming to Hollywood for a screen test, she received an invitation from another producer to visit his house for a screening.
Although skeptical, Seymour’s agent convinced her to attend, assuring her that the producer would show her the initial screen test.
Expecting to find a gathering of people at the producer’s house, Seymour was taken aback to discover that there was no one else present.
He proceeded to show her the screen test she had done and then sat down beside her.
He confidently declared, “Well, I’ve told everyone you’re perfect for my movie and I can’t wait.
I’ve done my part.
Now it’s your turn to do yours.”
Innocently, Seymour responded that she would deliver an excellent screen test in a day and a half.
To her shock, the producer disagreed, insisting that she knew what she had to do.
Bewildered, she replied, “No, I don’t.”
At that moment, the producer placed his hand uncomfortably high on Seymour’s thigh.
Being British, she discreetly crossed her legs, inching away on the couch until she had no choice but to stand up and plead, “Please help me get home.”
Unfortunately, she had arrived at the producer’s house in a cab, leaving her stranded with a man who made it abundantly clear that he expected something from her.
In a menacing manner, he even threatened her.
Seymour revealed that the producer was one of the most influential figures in Hollywood at the time.
He not only forbade her from speaking about the harassment but also instructed her to lie about ever being at his residence.
In a chilling warning, he declared, “You’ll never work ever again anywhere on the planet.”
This traumatic incident deeply affected Seymour, causing her to abandon acting for an entire year.
“The fact that it stopped me from being an actress for a whole year, and I could’ve completely quit the profession, shows you how devastating it was to me,” Seymour expressed emotionally.
Despite this setback, Seymour eventually returned to the industry and achieved success as a Bond girl alongside Roger Moore in “Live and Let Die” (1973).
She went on to captivate audiences with her leading role in the