‘60s icon and model Twiggy (real name: Lesley Lawson) has opened up about a past experience with controversial filmmaker Woody Allen, stating that he did “a mean old thing” in front of a live audience.
Twiggy was interviewed by Allen in 1967 during the British-born model’s first trip to the US, with the latter (who was in his 30s at the time) asking about her views on “serious matters”, in an effort to humiliate the then-teenager.
Allen asked Twiggy about her favourite philosophers, before Twiggy threw the question back at him and asked who his favourite one is.
“You know I like them all,” Allen sheepishly said in response. “All your basic philosophers.”
Twiggy told the Daily Mail that Allen’s actions were “mean”, but stated that she handled the situation as well as she could.
“That was sheer panic, when I looked at him and asked [who’s yours?],” Twiggy said.
“But it was such a mean thing to do to a young kid. Looking [back] at it, I think I did pretty well!
“All I can remember thinking is ‘don’t cry, don’t cry’, cause I was in such a panic and was in front of an audience.
“It was a mean old thing to do.”
When asked by the interviewer if Allen’s behaviour would be acceptable today, Twiggy said that she “doesn’t think it would”.
Twiggy told The Guardian in an interview on March 7 that Allen “tried to make me look stupid” with the stunt.
“My heart sank. I remember looking at him, pleading with my eyes for him to stop,” Twiggy told the outlet.
“If I was the age he was [in the interview], in my 30s, I would never have behaved like that towards someone who was only 17.”
Twiggy also stated that Allen’s actions were “definitely misogyny”.
Allen directed films including 2013’s Blue Jasmine starring Cate Blanchett and 1977’s Annie Hall starring Diane Keaton.
He has been accused of sexual assault by adopted daughter Dylan Farrow in 1992 when she was age seven, and has been scrutinised due to his relationship with future-wife Soon-Yi Previn, who was the adopted daughter of his then-partner Mia Farrow.
Dylan has repeatedly alleged that Allen molested her as a child, and has been long-supported by brother and journalist Ronan Farrow, who is known for his investigative reporting in The New Yorker that helped bring down disgraced movie mogul and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein in 2017.
