Minnie Driver says 'Hard Rain' producers denied her a wetsuit while filming to 'see my nipples'
Minnie Driver is opening up about the sexism she allegedly faced while filming the 1998 movie "Hard Rain."
Driver, 54, who starred in the film alongside Morgan Freeman and Christian Slater, made the revelation during Tuesday's episode of SiriusXM’s "I Weigh with Jameela Jamil."
The actress recalled being surrounded by "20 million gallons of water" for scenes "during this massive storm" and struggling with the physical intensity.
"There were huge rain machines. We shot crazy hours. It was tough, like it was a tough movie, but everybody else could wear a wetsuit underneath their costume," she said. "And I was told by the producers that I couldn't because they wanted to see my nipples and that there was no point in having the wet t-shirt if you couldn't have what was underneath it."
Driver said when she complained, she was ostracized. "People wouldn't speak to me on the set. … I was so punished for it," she claimed.
When her on-set resistance was "leaked to the press," it was spun as though she was just "complaining" over nothing.
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"We shot that movie for seven months. So, eventually, you do turn on yourself. You do go, 'It was my fault for saying anything, you stupid big mouth. You should have shut up,'" Driver continued. "And that goes in and then alters the way in which you kind of see yourself and your natural inclination to put your hand up and go, 'This isn't right.'"
"Hard Rain" costume designer Kathleen Detoro had a different recount of events in a statement to USA TODAY. "Producers never gave me those instructions. Actors don't like wearing wetsuits under their clothes. Very uncomfortable," she wrote.
Detoro added: "Made to order wet suits from (Body Glove) were purchased for all actors and crew. Actors received full wet suit, shortie (sic) wet suit, tops, bottoms and booties. It is up to (the) actor to decide what parts they wear or don't wear."
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for film distributor Paramount Pictures.
Driver added that these days her outspoken nature is "celebrated" and described as "articulate," which she credits to a shift in Hollywood following the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, during which people opened up about incidents of gender bias and harsh working conditions in the entertainment industry.
"I don't think I really ever did change," said Driver, comparing her current self to her early career. However, at the time, Driver said she was "punished" for being true to herself and had a "difficult time getting work."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Minnie Driver says 'Hard Rain' denied her wetsuit to expose nipples