The Dark Side Of Hollywood -- 10 Casting Couch Horror Stories

Following shocking claims by Hollywood hopeful Michael Egan III that X-Men director Bryan Singer allegedly abused him — a claim the Hollywood honcho has denied — RadarOnline.com looks back at other stars who complained of sexual harassment within the industry.

Following shocking claims by Hollywood hopeful Michael Egan III that X-Men director Bryan Singer allegedly abused him — a claim the Hollywood honcho has denied — RadarOnline.com looks back at other stars who complained of sexual harassment within the industry.

Thandie Newton

In 2013 British actress Thandie Newton told CNN that an unnamed casting director allegedly abused her during an audition when she was a teen. The Crash star said: “The director asked me to sit with my legs apart, and the camera was positioned where it could see up my skirt.” Thandie claims the director asked her to touch herself and that the intrusive footage was later shown at Hollywood parties.

Helen Mirren

British actress Helen Mirren lambasted English film producer and director Michael Winner in a TV interview for allegedly making her turn around and flaunt her body for him during a 1964 encounter. Recalling the event in 2007, she said: “I was mortified and incredibly angry.” Winner – who died in 2013 – denied Helen’s claims telling The Guardian newspaper: “I’m a huge fan, but her memory of that moment is a little flawed.”

Charlize Theron

“I thought it was a little odd that the audition was on a Saturday night at his house in Los Angeles…” That’s the thought that sprang to a 19-year-old Charlize Theron’s mind when a producer invited her to his home to read for a part in her early days in Hollywood. The South African actress told OK! Magazine that it soon became “very clear what the situation was” and that she told him, “Got the wrong girl, buddy!”

Gwyneth Paltrow

Despite being born into the film industry Gwyneth Paltrow told Elle that she too was subjected to the casting couch when she was trying to make a name for herself. In 2010 she told the magazine: “When I was just starting out, someone suggested that we finish a meeting in the bedroom.” A shocked Gwyneth left but said: “I could see how someone who didn’t know better might worry: ‘My career will be ruined if I don’t give this guy a blow j**!”

Susan Sarandon

In 2012 Susan Sarandon recounted her experience with the casting couch in an interview with Elle. Describing the encounter as being “disgusting” she said: “I just went into a room, and a guy practically threw me on the desk.” The Rocky Horror Show star said the incident – which took place when she was starting out in New York – was “not successful, for either of us.”

Megan Fox

Megan Fox didn’t name names but in a 2009 interview with British GQ the Transformers star claimed her brushes with the casting couch have taken place since she found fame. And she alleged that some “Hollywood legends” have sexually harassed her. She said: “You think you’re going to meet them and you’re so excited, like, ‘I can’t believe this person wants to have a conversation with me’, and you get there and you realize that’s not what they want at all.”

Corey Feldman

Former child star Corey Feldman has been very vocal about his sickening experience with sexual harassment in Hollywood when he was still a minor. He said: “I was surrounded by pedophiles when I was 14-years-old…It wasn’t until I was old enough to realize what they were and what they wanted…till I went, ‘Oh my God’. They were everywhere.”

Marilyn Monroe

There have long been rumors that blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe used her body to sleep her way to the top of the film industry. The actress once described Tinsel Town as being “an overcrowded brothel.” And one biographer – Barbara Leaming – claims that Marilyn’s attempts to sleep with director Howard Hawks fell flat when he rebuffed her offers saying, “he saw nothing special about her.”

Judy Garland

In his biography of Judy Garland, Get Happy, writer Gerald Clarke made shocking claims that the legendary performer was sexually molested when she was a teen. The author told ABC News that MGM studio head, Louis B. Mayer, used to “place his hand on her left breast” when instructing her to “sing from the heart.” After four years an outraged Judy plucked up the courage to tell her boss: “If you want to tell me where I sing from, just point.”

Lisa Rinna

“Just pull your panties down and bend over and the role is yours.” That’s what Lisa Rinna claimed one producer told her when she read for a “role on a big TV series.” The actress told PopEater.com that she lost out on the job when she refused to comply but years later bumped into the man at a red carpet event and told him: “If you ever do what you did to me again to anyone else I will tell everyone your dirty secret.”