Actor Ray Winstone has claimed he slapped and threatened a movie director after catching him groping a female co-star on a film set.
The 69-year-old screen star recalled the confrontation during a candid interview with The Times Culture Magazine, though he declined to reveal the identity of the director involved.
Winstone explained that the incident occurred while filming a scene in which his character had to pick up an actress. He said the director stepped in to demonstrate how to perform the movement, but used the opportunity to physically grope the woman.
Describing the incident, Winstone said: "I had this director once. I was in a scene where I had to pick up this girl, and the director wanted to show me what to do. But he was groping her..."
Winstone said he intervened immediately to confront the filmmaker, recalling: "That was it. I said, 'Don't you dare do that.' He abused his power, took advantage, and she was a good kid, you know, who seemed a little lost. Anyway, it was dealt with."
When asked to clarify what he meant by "dealt with," Winstone explained that film sets historically handled improper behavior internally. He noted: "Well, back in the day, if there was a wrong 'un on set, 99 times out of 100 it was sorted, either by the hairy-a**e riggers or sparks."
Winstone added that he personally stepped in when necessary on productions. "I've done it myself too, taken someone to the side to give them a slap or to tell them, in no uncertain terms, to behave," he said, before reflecting on how industry standards have changed: "But it's a different world today."
Winstone, born in Hackney, East London, has built a career spanning more than four decades as one of Britain's most recognizable screen actors, renowned for playing tough-guy roles. His early breakout performance came in the 1979 borstal drama Scum, followed by critically acclaimed roles in Gary Oldman's 1997 directorial debut Nil By Mouth and the 2000 British crime drama Sexy Beast. He later starred in major Hollywood feature films, including the 2004 historical epic King Arthur and Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning 2006 crime thriller The Departed.
Ray Winstone on Career and The Gentlemen Return
Asked by The Times whether he has any intention of slowing down his work schedule, the veteran actor offered a quick response, quipping: "Well, you've got to pay the taxman, haven't you?"
Winstone will next star as hardman mob patriarch Bobby Glass in season two of The Gentlemen on the streaming platform Netflix, starring alongside co-stars Theo James and Kaya Scodelario.
The Gentlemen, created and directed by filmmaker Guy Ritchie as a television expansion of his 2019 feature film, premiered its first season on Netflix in 2024. The action-comedy series centers on British aristocrats who become entangled in a massive cannabis empire hidden beneath rural estates.
Netflix released a full-length trailer for the upcoming second season on Monday, setting an official release date for September 3. The trailer focuses on Theo James's character, Eddie Horniman, as he attempts to take back control of his family estate from Bobby Glass's criminal operation.
At the start of the trailer clip, Eddie speaks over sweeping shots of his sprawling grounds, saying: "400 years ago, this estate spread out as far as the eye could see... I want it all back." However, his ambition to regain total domination faces resistance from Bobby Glass.
The plot for the new series picks up one year after Eddie and Susie, played by Scodelario, agreed to work together overseas within Bobby's network. Tensions rise as both characters disagree with recent choices made by the kingpin, while Bobby remains aware of their plans to expand the operation and "decriminalize marijuana."
The trailer also highlights returning actor Giancarlo Esposito, whose character encourages Eddie to break away from Winstone's mob boss, telling him: "Forge your own path. Move away from Bobby Glass." Additionally, the upcoming season introduces Hugh Bonneville as Lord Hawthorne and British television presenter Maya Jama as a gangster's moll.
Meghan Markle Role Withdrawal and Backlash
Alongside the second season trailer, confirmation came that a third series of The Gentlemen has been officially greenlit. The announcement comes shortly after reports surfaced regarding potential casting changes for the upcoming third instalment.
Last weekend, reports claimed that former royal Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, had been offered a role in the third season. However, reports indicated the offer was quickly withdrawn following strong reaction across Britain.
Royal author Tina Brown detailed the situation in her Fresh Hell newsletter on Substack, writing: "I learned that the casting of Meghan Markle has been withdrawn. The backlash was so intense it became untenable to go forward." Brown added: "This does not bode well for Meghan's acting comeback."
Markle rose to fame playing paralegal Rachel Zane on the hit American legal television drama Suits between 2011 and 2018, before retiring from acting ahead of her marriage to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. In a 2022 interview with Variety magazine, Markle addressed her acting career, stating: "I'm done. I guess never say never but my intention is to absolutely not."
Despite those earlier statements, recent reports from sources close to the duchess had described a potential return to acting as one of the factors behind plans for her and Prince Harry to return to Britain.
