Thandie Newton, a British actress, has spoken out about experiencing sexual abuse in the entertainment industry.

In an interview with the Press Association, Newton revealed that a co-star had once groped her, but did not name the individual involved.

She said the incident had occurred after the birth of her first child and when she was married. Newton also discussed how a producer had instructed her to appear topless in a scene to improve ratings, and how a publicist had advised her not to speak out about sexual abuse.

She stated that sexual abuse is a “widespread problem” in “every single industry”.

The actress, known for her roles in Mission: Impossible II and Crash, previously spoke about her experiences of sexual harassment in an interview with W Magazine in 2016.

In the interview, she stated that a director had filmed up her skirt during an audition in her early career and later showed the footage to his friends.

During her recent interview with the Press Association, Newton spoke about how her experiences of sexual abuse had motivated her to raise awareness of the issue.

She said: “I started talking about this years ago because I knew that it was happening to young people. And I knew that it was happening in my industry and in every single industry.”

Newton also discussed how her experiences of sexual abuse had impacted her decision to speak out.

She said: “I had a publicist who said, ‘It’s really not good for you to be associated with this kind of conversation because it’s kind of a bum out. People associate you with a bum out’.

Being associated with a bum out, that’s a sacrifice I’m making because…people want to open a magazine so they can be titillated.

I don’t want to do that because I’m interested in the one person who reads that and will protect themselves better and be more aware.”

Newton’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about sexual harassment and assault in the entertainment industry and beyond.

In 2017, the #MeToo movement gained prominence following a series of sexual assault allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein.

Since then, numerous individuals have come forward to share their experiences of sexual harassment and abuse.

The film industry has been a focus of these discussions, with allegations of sexual misconduct made against a number of high-profile figures.

The industry has also been criticised for its lack of diversity, with concerns raised about the underrepresentation of women, people of colour, and other marginalised groups.

Newton’s comments highlight the ongoing need for greater awareness and action to address sexual abuse in the entertainment industry and beyond.

They also underscore the importance of supporting survivors and empowering them to speak out about their experiences.

Following Newton’s interview with the Press Association, a number of individuals expressed their support for the actress on social media.

Many praised her courage in speaking out about her experiences and emphasised the importance of continuing to challenge sexual abuse and harassment in all forms.

In response to the ongoing discussion about sexual harassment in the entertainment industry, a number of initiatives have been launched to support survivors and promote change.

These include the Time’s Up movement, which was founded in response to the Weinstein allegations, and aims to combat sexual harassment and gender inequality in the workplace.

The industry has also taken steps to address these issues, with the introduction of new policies and guidelines to prevent sexual harassment and support survivors.

For example, the British Film Institute has launched a new code of conduct for the film industry, which aims to prevent bullying, harassment and discrimination.

However, much more needs to be done to tackle the issue of sexual abuse in the entertainment industry and beyond.

This includes raising awareness of the issue, providing support and resources for survivors, and promoting greater diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the industry.