Charlotte Lewis Says Roman Polanski Abused Her at 16

By PopEater Staff Posted May 14th 2010 03:26PM

Charlotte Lewis, the British actress who played opposite Eddie Murphy in 'The Golden Child,' has accused embattled director Roman Polanski of sexually abusing her when she was 16.

With high-powered attorney Gloria Allred at her side, the 42-year-old actress told reporters on Friday that Polanski victimized her "in the worst possible way" when they first met at his apartment. Lewis went on to appear in Polanski's 1986 adventure-comedy, 'Pirates.' She was 19 when the film was released, however it took years to complete.

Allred told reporters that if Lewis' allegations are true, they "are relevant for his sentencing" in a decades-old conviction for unlawful sex with a minor. The 'Chinatown' director is currently fighting extradition to the United States after years of being a fugitive.

Lewis did not offer many details about the alleged incident, only that Polanski used force during a visit to his apartment in Paris.

"Mr. Polanski knew that I was only 16 years old when he met me and forced himself upon me in his apartment in Paris," she said. "He took advantage of me and I have lived with the effects of his behavior ever since it occurred. All I want is justice."

The age of consent in France is 16, providing there was no force or coercion involved.

Lewis said there were "similarities" between what she claims Polanski did to her and the incident involving Samantha Geimer, the then-13-year-old model at the center of his criminal case.

Polanski was accused of plying Geimer with champagne and part of a Quaalude pill, then raping her during a modeling shoot at Jack Nicholson's house in 1977. Polanski was initially indicted on six felony counts, including rape by use of drugs, child molesting and sodomy. He later pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse in a plea bargain.

Allred has taken Lewis' accusations to the Los Angeles Police Department and the LA District Attorney's Office, presumably to help boost their case against Polanski.

Other than 'Pirates,' Lewis is best known for her starring role in 'The Golden Child' and later posed in a memorable spread for Playboy magazine, where the headline read, "The Golden Child Is a Grown-Up Sizzler."

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Roman Polanski Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 14: Lawyer Gloria Allred (L) and actress Charlotte Lewis speak during a press conference on May 14, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Charlotte Lewis alleges that she was sexually abused by Roman Polanski when she was 16 years old. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Gloria Allred;Charlotte Lewis

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

Roman Polanski Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 14: Lawyer Gloria Allred poses during a press conference on May 14, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Charlotte Lewis alleges that she was sexually abused by Roman Polanski when she was 16 years old. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Gloria Allred

Roman Polanski Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 14: Actress Charlotte Lewis poses during a press conference on May 14, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Charlotte Lewis alleges that she was sexually abused by Roman Polanski when she was 16 years old. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Charlotte Lewis

Roman Polanski Snapshots

Lawyer Gloria Allred holds a press conference in Los Angeles May 14, 2010 with her client Charlotte Lewis (not in photo), who alleges that she was sexually victimized by Roman Polanski when she was 16-years-old. AFP PHOTO/ROBYN BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Roman Polanski Snapshots

Charlotte Lewis, an actress from London, holds a press conference at her lawyer's offices in Los Angeles May 14, 2010. Lewis, who appeared in Roman Polanski's film "Pirates," alleges that she was sexually victimized by Polanski when she was 16-years-old. AFP PHOTO/ROBYN BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Roman Polanski Snapshots

Tags: roman polanski

Comments

(61)

Friday 14 May

By AppleRoxTheHouse

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She looks like she's been abused recently. I don't know why she waited all these years to mention this. I guess her career is winding down.

By j

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

GOLD DIGGER . GLORIA ALLRED

By jeff

she hasn't worked since 2003. what a way to jump-strat her career!

By themeeker

Personally, I don't believe her. Why didn't she say something years ago? Because there was no money in it. No one can prove or disprove her claim and I think she's just a publicity ho.

What she is really doing is drawing focus off of the real victims of child molestation.

She and Gloria should crawl back under their rock and stow it.

By hillsamurai

She looks like an out of work Ho who needs a little money. Gloria Allred is a Ho as well.

Saturday 15 May

By MandiP

Really? I thought she retired. Is that a recent pic?!! This is too sad for a once promising career.

By bailoutsos

For as many women Allred is representing, she must have 120 billable hours a day.

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Gloria Allred . hahahahahahahahahaahhahaha . Real credible

By jivejerky

"sexual abuse" is redundant since that is the point.

By Mother Goose

Um.... "sexual" and "abuse" is not redundant. Something can be sexual and not be abuse. Something can be abuse and not be sexual. The two are not mutually exclusive.

By OMALLEY

WONDER IF SOMEONE SAID THAT YOU WERE A CHILD MOLESTER, OR A RAPEST ECT. HOW COULD YOU DEFEND YOURSELF, SAY I,M NOT GUILTY, STILL THEY,LL ALWAYS BE THAT QUESTION ON YOU, A ALIGATION IS NEARLY INDEFENCIABLE. REPUBLICANS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR MAKING ALIGATIONS, ARE YOU A REPUBLICAN?

By fiona

She waited 26 years cause she's most likely strapped for cash and desperately in need of some major publicity. Has "Booty Call III" started filming yet???

By Marc-eee

My god... Is there no depths that this bottom feeding ambulance chaser Gloria Allred will not go.... 26 years later.. REALLY?! Why wait so long honey.... Oh wait that's right... You've had no career for that long.... Incredible!!!

By Trizone

No there is no depth Gloria Allred will not stoop to... there is always some scuzz bag she will gladly represent.

By creativeCathy22

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There needs to be a statute of limitations here. Leave Roman Polanski alone! His beautiful wife was butchered by the Manson family for goodness sake. I don't know why this person would wait so long to make a statement, unless she is looking for a handout.

By MikoRose

Yeah, great excuse for him to drug and rape a teenager. I hope you don't have any daughters. I would fear for them.

By Linda

Cathy...You are indeed a sick individual that needs to seek professional help. His wife being killed has not a thing to do with this sexual preditor. He's a slimmy little pig that should be behind bars.

By Ginger Root

What happened to his wife is no excuse for his bad behavior. That said, if you've seen any kind of bio on his wife, you'd know he wasn't that great of a husband to her to start. So he's always been a creep.

Friday 04 June

Guilty until proven innocent, evidently...

Saturday 07 May

By kerby norris

agreed LEAVE RONAM ALONE BUT HE IS PROTECTED BY HIS TALENT HE HAS WON ALL OF THIS THESE PEOPLE TRYING TO JUMP ON HIS FAME CLEARLY HAVE LOST I KNEW CHARLOTTE SHE IS A DRUG USING FREAKED OUT ''SKETCHY'' PERSON WHILE IN HER PRESENCE SHE MAKES YOU NERVOUS . SHE IS TELLING LIES HERE I THINK POLANSKIS FRENCH ATTORNEY IS RIGHT BY SAYING THEY MAY TAKE ACTION AGAINST HER . BUT BEING SO SMART THEY WILL LOST LIEKLY LET IT DIE WITH THE REST OF THE LIES .

POLANSKI IS THE GREATEST AND HAS PAID FOR IT 10 TIMES OVER DID GEORGE BUSH PAY FOR THE MURDER AD RAPE OF ALL THE GIRLS IN IRAQI ???? THAT HE CAUSED FROM THE ILLEGAL WAR I THINK NOT

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