Mia Farrow: No Hard Feelings Toward Actors Who Work With Woody Allen
Mia Farrow recently spoke out about her complicated past with filmmaker Woody Allen. In a candid interview on CBS Sunday Morning on September 1, the 79-year-old actress known for her roles in Rosemary’s Baby and The Great Gatsby, reflected on her relationship with Allen and the decisions of actors who choose to work with him today.
Mia, who was in a relationship with Woody from 1980 to 1992, starred in 13 of his films during that time. Their relationship ended in scandal when Allen began dating and later married Mia’s adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn.
In addition, Mia’s daughter, Dylan, accused Woody of sexually abusing her when she was just 7 years old, an accusation that Woody has always denied and for which he was never formally charged.
When asked by journalist Seth Doane if she could separate her experience as an actor in Woody’s films from the personal turmoil that followed, Mia responded, “Oh yeah, yeah.”
She went on to say, “I completely understand if an actor decides to work with him. I’m not one who’d say, ‘Oh, they shouldn’t.'”
Mia’s comments come in the wake of many Hollywood stars distancing themselves from Woody. After Dylan’s allegations became public, actors like Kate Winslet, Drew Barrymore, Colin Firth, and Greta Gerwig expressed regret over working with him and vowed never to do so again.
In 2018, Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Hall even donated their salaries from Woody’s films to the Time’s Up movement.
However, not everyone in Hollywood shares this view. Comedian Bill Maher criticized actors who refuse to work with Woody, and Javier Bardem has defended the filmmaker, arguing that he was never convicted of any crime. Actress Gina Gershon also weighed in, calling Woody’s relationships a “family matter” and not something for the public to judge.
Mia, who has described bringing Woody into her family as “the greatest regret of my life,” has been open about the impact of their relationship on her and her children. In the 2021 HBO docuseries Allen v. Farrow, she recounted the complex dynamics of their family life.
Woody, now 88, has two daughters with Previn, whom he married in 1997.
During the CBS Sunday Morning interview, Mia also spoke about her current life and career, including her role in the Broadway play The Roommate. She appeared alongside her longtime friend and co-star, Patti LuPone, who noted, “Not many people have had Mia’s life.”
Mia, with her characteristic humor, responded, “I’m old, you know?”
“I’m very good at doing nothing … I’m endlessly entertaining to myself. I have good friends. I have no complaints,” she added.
