Rose McGowan “Hollywood Was Worse Than The Cult I Escaped”

After being shut out of Hollywood, Rose McGowan explains how she was forced to step away - and slowly rebuild her life on her own terms.

Rose speaks openly about her experiences in Hollywood, the cost of refusing to stay silent, and how leaving the industry became part of reclaiming her creativity, identity and sense of self. Rose was one of the first to go public with claims of sexual assault against Harvey Weinstein, and she explains how she was allegedly raped by the movie producer at the age of 23 - and what it cost her to speak out. She reflects on the severe personal and professional consequences that followed.

Content warning: this conversation includes discussion of sexual assault.

From being raised in a cult in Italy to navigating Hollywood, she reflects on how early experiences shaped her instincts around control, belonging and survival. She also speaks about what came after: the unexpected support she found through fans and Comic-Con, stepping away from the US to recover in Mexico, reconnecting with creativity through music, and why reclaiming her real name - Rosa - feels like coming home. She shares: ◽ What it was like growing up inside The Children of God ◽ Being alone at 13 and realising no one was looking for her ◽ Why speaking out about Harvey Weinstein meant career death ◽ What was really happening behind the scenes on Charmed ◽ The truth behind the VMA dress and what people misunderstood ◽ Nearly losing her life, leaving the US and starting again ◽ How fans, creativity and music helped bring her back to herself Rose McGowan, We Need To Talk

Support charities:

Survivor’s Trust: https://g2ul0.app.link/HOj44LvWZUb

CALM: https://g2ul0.app.link/uULaUXcM3Nb 

MIND: https://g2ul0.app.link/gbuRaxjM3Nb 

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Support Rose here:
Website: https://www.rosemcg.com/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/rosemcgowan/ 

(00:00) Intro

(02:23) How Does Rose Identify?

(03:39) 'The Children of God' and the Circumstances of Rose's Upbringing

(04:31) How Do You Define a Cult?

(06:47) Rose's Father and His Role Within 'The Children of God'

(09:31) The Beginnings of Rose's Career in Performance

(12:05) The British Court Ruling on 'The Children of God'

(14:22) How Rose Left 'The Children of God' and Her First Experiences in the USA

(19:32) Rose's Friction With Her Mother's Partners

(22:42) Rose's Experience With Her Father in the USA

(24:35) Rose's Perspective of Herself as a Teenager

(26:12) Being Forced To Go To Rehab at 13

(29:59) How Rose Left Rehab and What She Did Afterwards

(33:22) Rose's Attraction to Performing

(34:25) How Rose's Relationship With Her Father Developed During Adolescence

(38:42) Paul Surprises Rose With a Photo

(41:51) Adobe Express Ad

(43:11) How and Why Rose Moved to Hollywood

(52:19) Rose's First Featured Film Role

(55:35) Rose's Early Experiences of Hollywood's Inner Workings

(58:29) How Rose Met Harvey Weinstein

(01:01:52) Rose Details Her Encounter With Harvey Weinstein

(01:07:11) How Weinstein Covered His Tracks

(01:16:45) Sexual Assault and Its Prevalence in Society

(01:23:35) Rose's Relationship With Marilyn Manson

(01:32:11) How Rose Joined Charmed

(01:40:00) Fame During Charmed and How Rose Dealt With It

(01:42:27) Rose's Relationship With Robert Rodriguez

(01:49:47) What Led Rose to Activism and the MeToo Movement

(01:59:24) How Rose Felt When Harvey Weinstein Was Convicted

(02:03:39) Rose on Public Perception of Her

(02:04:54) How and Why Rose Moved to Mexico

(02:07:40) How Rose Bounced Back From Health Issues During Covid

(02:08:17) Rose's Unexpected Entry Into the UK Music Scene

(02:12:39) What Rose Would Tell Her 12-Year-Old Self

(02:13:59) Most Memorable Conversation

(02:18:34) Paul’s Takeaways

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