Former Loose Women star Sherrie Hewson, 70, has revealed she was sexually assaulted by a ‘very famous’ film director in the early stages of her career.
The actress, who was 21 at the time, said the unnamed man lured her to his apartment, served her alcohol when she asked for lemonade and stripped naked to attack her whilst she slept.
Recalling the terrifying incident on Saturday, she confessed she had to ‘run for her life’ in the middle of the night, but didn’t disclose the incident at-the-time because she felt ‘ashamed.’
‘I ran for my life’: Sherrie Hewson, 70, has revealed she was sexually assaulted by a ‘very famous’ film director whilst asleep at 21 during the early stages of her career
She stated the high-profile star offered to give her and three friends a lift home from the Royal Academy Of Dramatic Arts, where she was studying.
After dropping her schoolmates off at Warren Street tube station, he suggested they should take a detour to a restaurant for dinner, and Sherrie innocently took him up on the offer.
In a sinister turn of events, he invited her into his flat for a quick coffee and promised to take her home straight after, but instead, he served the unwitting actress Pernod and told her to stay on the sofa because he couldn’t drive.
She told The Mirror: ‘I didn’t know what Pernod was. It made me dizzy.
Shocking: The actress (pictured in 1975) said the man lured her to his apartment, served her alcohol when she asked for lemonade and stripped naked to attack her whilst she slept
‘He kept saying, “Oh look, it’s too late for me to drive now because I’ve had some wine. You can sleep on that couch”.
‘I took my dress off and I was in my bra and knickers on the couch with the duvet, lights out, end of story.
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‘Within minutes, he burst into the room naked and, for the next hour, he chased me. It sounds funny, but he chased me up and down the house, in and out of doors, in and out of wardrobes… everything you can imagine. I just ran for my life.’
According to Sherrie, he eventually gave up tailing her and told her she could sleep on the floor, but insisted she had to ‘get out’ before he awoke in the morning.
Panic-stricken by the incident, the budding actress put her clothes back on and ran out in the middle of the night.
Fear: Recalling the terrifying incident on Saturday, she confessed she had to ‘run for her life’ in the middle of the night, but didn’t disclose the incident at-the-time because she felt ‘ashamed’ (pictured on set of Carry On Behind)
According to Sherrie, she was so terrified and ‘very ashamed’, she didn’t tell anyone what had happened.
However if she saw him now, she admitted she would confront him and ‘cut his balls off’ as she applauded women for speaking out and noted the changing cultural attitudes towards sexual assault.
She added: ‘I was frightened, but we’re not afraid any more. That’s what #metoo has done. These guys now lose their jobs. There is a consequence to the actions. There never used to be.’
The TV personality, revealed the high-flyer is still ‘very famous’ and once blocked her from landing an acting role.
For support or additional information surrounding sexual assault, contact the Rape Crisis national freephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
Harassment: The TV personality, revealed the high-flyer is still ‘very famous’ and once blocked her from landing an acting role (pictured on Carry On Behind)
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