British actor accuses Harvey Weinstein of rape

Lysette Anthony told police that assault took place at her home in late 1980s

A 2009 file photograph of British actress Lysette Anthony. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
A 2009 file photograph of British actress Lysette Anthony. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

British actor Lysette Anthony has revealed she told police Harvey Weinstein raped her in her London home in the late 1980s.

Scotland Yard had previously said it had received an allegation of sexual assault without naming the producer.

The latest revelation comes as the organisation behind the Oscars expelled the producer over allegations of sexual abuse.

The Hollyoaks actor’s revelation follows several allegations of rape made by actors in the United States against Weinstein, all of which he has strenuously denied.

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Anthony (54) told the Sunday Times she met the producer when she starred in 1982 sci-fi film Krull and that the alleged assault occurred a few years later.

She said it was a “pathetic, revolting” attack that had left her “disgusted and embarrassed”.

On Wednesday Anthony tweeted that she had just reported a historical crime, adding “feel sick . . . so sad”.

The Metropolitan Police said it was passed an allegation of sexual assault by Merseyside Police the same day.

Dozens of actors, including Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow, have made accusations of sex abuse against the 65-year-old movie mogul over the past 10 days, prompting the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to call an emergency meeting.

On Saturday some of the film industry’s most powerful figures - including Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Whoopi Goldberg - voted to expel the film producer from their ranks.

In a statement the Academy said the board had “voted well in excess of the required two-thirds majority” to expel Weinstein.

Actor Rose McGowan - one of the first women to accuse Weinstein of sexual harassment and who has since said he raped her - celebrated the Academy’s decision with a post on Instagram.

She wrote: “We slay dragons.”

Through his spokeswoman, the movie mogul has “unequivocally denied” any allegations of non-consensual sex after three actresses said he had raped them in an article in The New Yorker.

Police in the United States are also investigating allegations.

PA