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 Lewis Eats His Brothers Daughters

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Hey Lewis...Got a nice video of Bobby and Matt's paint a cop car shop and your in to that dude as well. When I am done with you honey, you won't be able to do anything but beg for prep H in the joint

By shirleyA

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Many women gave themselves willingly to Polanski when
he was the hot movie director in his time to be in his
movies. She made a movie with him at age 19?
I'm not sure this sort of thing happens now days, but
I'm sure Alled will be there waiting like the vulture
that she is when it does happen. I think that this
Charlotte Lewis had sex with him at some point and now
that he is facing these charges and probably needs money
or a job, its the perfect opportunity.

Saturday 15 May

By TomW

As much as I would like to see Polanski stand trial for his crime in the US, I find claims like this one to be beyond belief. If this happened, she repressed this becasue she accepted the advantages to her career, now that her career needs a boost she is out there making these claims, with her cheesy lawyer, looking for either a payday or some media attention. She has not been powerless to seek justice, she does it now because it suits her, or worse she makes these allegations, falsely, for personal gain.

By Julie

Gloria Allred?????? NEVER MIND!!!!!

By Allison

Polanski may have directed some great movies, but he is a slimeball. It is a well known fact that he cheated on his poor deceased wife, Sharon Tate. So her tragic death does not make it okay that he raped a 13 year old girl. He is not a victim. I am sure Samantha Geimer was not his only victim. When he was in his forties, he dated a fifteen year old actress. The slime loves underage girls.

By Jimbo

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BS!

By JBaer

That still doesn't explain what she did since "The Golden Child."

By glo

Pulanski is a child rapist. He needs to be locked up forever. Obviously, some of the young women he raped are not talking because their careers are probably good. As for the ones who aren't making it, I hope they all talk. Expose the bastard who raped them as children and then have him put away! Having money should not save him. God help us all against idiots like Pulanski.

By BB

How would she prove it?

By kevin

his rape case had occurred in 1977, this women claims that she was abused or what not in 1984,that is seven years later. but she knew nothing or never heard of rumors or gossip in the industry. but was never advised by her parents or agent of who this man was or is or what he has done outside of the industry.best part she waits 24.5 years to speak of it. seem like an out of work never has been wants something more than justice.as some else said earlier she's an opportunist & to those that will say otherwise her story has more hole in it than Swiss cheese

By hdstyle1957

Damn what happened to her since she made the movie golden child? Someone abused her with an ugly machine 24/7.

By richard

i would remind my esteemed colleagues he is innocent until proven guilty.
even if the other incident is true.

here is a woman who is making a career out of suing celebrities because her clients knowingly had relations with married said celebrities.

By crksr

Roman Polanski is a child molester and, He needs to pay for his transgressions. Big name or small name, it does not matter. A criminal is a criminal and criminals get punished when convicted. Roman Polanski was convicted and should be sentenced accordingly. No more no less.

By Zero

Now he's getting screwed.

By Joontoon

LOL, I'm still trippin' on the picture of Ms. Lewis OMG it was the first human face I've seen since waking up....Yikes! All of that aside, I believe Lewis and slimey Allred still sux big time!

By mary

Richard really your a idiot, he pleaded GUILTY and agreed to prison sentence then he ran away like a coward. Hope you are not not married or have female children, or sisters or Mom.

others is takes years for people to tell police, even family,friends what some jerk did to them and you all proved why many women never tell

By Jules

There's no excuse for sexual abuse. If this woman's story is true, then it at least it does show a pattern with Roman as a sex offender, rapist, and predator. Too bad his wife was murdered and cannot shed any further light on his behavior. although spouses can be granted immunity from testifying against each other. It would be curious if he acted this way with his wife, and/or if he had such illicit and abusive affairs without her knowledge. He's a pig and should be finally brought to justice to face the music since he fled the country and his initial trial for these charges. He apparently doesn't mind the fact that he prospered in film making while in America, but then had to rape young, innocent American women here too. Let him rot in our prisons with the general population where he can get a taste of his own medicine by being sodomized by an inmate...that would be true justice.

By Tena

How long has it been since she worked? Does she need some fast cash?

Why would someone wait so long to report something like this, and where the heck were her parents at that time?

By jivejerky

To be required to get near the train wreck, bacon strip, slime central, nonsense of female genitalia, is physically offensive and destructive to the nervous system, therefore, abuse. Whoop Whoop!

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