Kate Winslet refused to thank Weinstein in 2009 Oscar speech

In 2009, Kate Winslet won the best actress Oscar for her performance in The Reader – a film financed and distributed by Harvey Weinstein's company.

During her acceptance speech, the British star thanked 19 people by name and many others in general, but excluded Harvey Weinstein.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Kate said:  “That was deliberate. That was absolutely deliberate.”

“I remember being told. ‘Make sure you thank Harvey if you win’. And I remember turning around and saying, ‘No I won’t. No I won’t’.”

Not shy about making her feelings know, the actress went on to explain the sense of relief she felt over the fact she would never again have to deal with the producer.

“The fact that I’m never going to have to deal with Harvey Weinstein again as long as I live is one of the best things that’s ever happened and I’m sure the feeling is universal.”

Describing Harvey as “bullying and nasty”, she told the newspaper how the producer never let her forget the fact that her first movie, Heavenly Creature, was made by his company, Miramax Films.

“For my whole career, Harvey Weinstein, whenever I’ve bumped into him, he’d grab my arm and say, ‘Don’t forget who gave you your first movie’. Like I owe him everything.”

“Then later, with The Reader, same thing, ‘I’m gonna get you that Oscar nomination, I’m gonna get you a win, I’m gonna win for you’.”

“But that’s how he operated. He was bullying and nasty. Going on a business level, he was always very, very hard to deal with — he was rude.”

Meanwhile, the organisation behind the Academy Awards has expelled the film producer over a string of sexual assault and harassment allegations made against him.