Star Trek Actress Marina Sirtis Accuses Late Director Michael Winner of Sexual Harassment
Marina Sirtis, the actress renowned for her role as Counselor Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation, has publicly accused the late British film director Michael Winner of sexual harassment. The 71-year-old star recounted a horrific experience while working with Winner on the 1983 film The Wicked Lady, alleging inappropriate and cruel behaviour that left her traumatised.
Blackmailed into a Role
Speaking on The Show People podcast, Sirtis revealed that she was initially offered a part in Death Wish 3 but refused, describing the franchise as "disgusting". However, she claims Winner threatened to sue her agent, alleging a verbal agreement had been made. "I was kind of blackmailed into playing the part," Sirtis stated, explaining that her agent feared costly legal battles even if Winner would not win the case.
Concerned about a nude scene, Sirtis contacted the actors' union Equity for protection. Initially met with scepticism, Equity agreed to attend the filming once they learned it was for Death Wish 3. Sirtis emphasised that the scene was never scheduled, but Winner abruptly announced they would film it immediately, forcing her to call Equity for support.
Traumatic Filming Conditions
Sirtis described being made to lie topless on a concrete floor for five hours in freezing conditions. She and the wardrobe team created a makeshift covering for her lower half, but Winner insisted on seeing her naked side. "I was freezing," she recalled, noting that when a cinematographer placed a coat over her, Winner angrily demanded it be removed.
To cope, Sirtis drank endless cups of tea to stay warm and was desperate to use the bathroom. As she rushed off, Winner allegedly shouted via megaphone, "And she wasn't even good in bed." Reflecting on the ordeal, Sirtis expressed her disdain: "I hope he's on a spit in hell as we speak. He was a misogynist, and he was cruel."
Other Actresses Come Forward
Marina Sirtis is not the first actress to allege inappropriate behaviour by Michael Winner. In 2017, soap stars Debbie Arnold and Cindy Marshall-Day shared similar stories. Arnold, from EastEnders, claimed that in her early 20s, Winner invited her to his home for an audition and asked her to remove her top and bra, then massage her breasts. She responded by calling him a "dirty old pervert" and leaving.
Marshall-Day, of Crossroads, added that Winner asked her to take off her top, describing it as part of his "modus operandi" with young actresses. Both women came forward after the Harvey Weinstein scandal, feeling empowered to expose Winner's actions despite his death in 2013.
Winner's Legacy and Denials
Michael Winner, who died of liver cancer at age 77, was a prolific director known for films like Death Wish and The Big Sleep, as well as the iconic "Calm down, dear!" car insurance commercials. His estate was valued at £45 million, with his wife Geraldine inheriting the majority, including a Holland Park mansion later sold to Robbie Williams.
When previously confronted with these allegations, Winner's widow Geraldine dismissed them as "untrue". Winner himself had claimed the incident with Debbie Arnold was a trick to test her reaction, praising her handling of it. However, the accounts from Sirtis and others paint a consistent picture of predatory behaviour in the film industry.
These revelations highlight ongoing issues of abuse and power dynamics in entertainment, with victims like Sirtis speaking out to ensure such misconduct is not forgotten, even after the perpetrator's death.
