Mena Suvari reveals ‘weird and unusual’ experience with costar Kevin Spacey on set of American Beauty… nearly two decades before the actor’s sexual assault allegations
Mena Suvari is opening up about a ‘weird and unusual’ experience she had with costar Kevin Spacey while on the set of the 1999 film American Beauty.
The actress, who was 19 at the time of shooting, recalled Spacey bringing her into a room where they ‘[laid] on the bed very close to one another’ in preparation for an intimate scene.
‘He was sort of gently holding me. It was very peaceful but weird and unusual,’ Suvari, now 42, explained to People on Wednesday.
Opening up: Mena Suvari is opening up about a ‘weird and unusual’ experience she had with costar Kevin Spacey while on the set of the 1999 film American Beauty; Mena pictured in 2019
American Beauty follows a middle-aged man (played by Spacey) who becomes infatuated with his teenager daughter’s best friend (played by Suvari).
The film, directed by Sam Mendes, received widespread critical-acclaim and went on to snag several awards including the Academy Awards for Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor (for Spacey’s work) and Best Film.
Nearly two-decades after American Beauty hit theaters, several men would come forward to make sexual assault and sexual harassment allegations against Spacey, now 61.
Once she learned of the allegations, Mena said she instantly ‘thought of that day’ on set of American Beauty, adding that her ‘heart goes out to anyone who suffers abuse.’
‘Weird’ experience: The actress, who was 19 at the time of shooting, recalled Spacey bringing her into a room where they ‘[laid] on the bed very close to one another’ in preparation for an intimate scene; Spacey and Suvari pictured in American Beauty (1999)
Mixed emotions: ‘He was sort of gently holding me. It was very peaceful but weird and unusual,’ Suvari, now 42, explained to People on Wednesday; Spacey and Suvari pictured in American Beauty (1999)
In her new memoir The Great Peace: A Memoir, Mena discusses experiencing sexual abuse while growing up and how she felt as if she were ‘living a double life’ amid her American Beauty fame.
‘Every time I would go on a set. Every time I was interviewed, I was acting the whole time. It was another role for me to play. That I was okay,’ she told People.
Despite her hardships, Suvari channeled her emotions into her acting roles, particularly that of her role in American Beauty – which she described as ‘a beautiful experience.’
‘It was a beautiful experience, being given the opportunity to work and express myself right when I needed I to save me.’
With the release of The Great Peace: A Memoir, Mena hopes to ‘help someone else see their value’ and to ‘lessen the pain for someone else’ who has also suffered abuse.
American Beauty: American Beauty follows a middle-aged man (played by Spacey) who becomes infatuated with his teenager daughter’s best friend (played by Suvari)
‘This is my truth. This is my voice. I was so tired of fighting and hiding my whole life,’ she expressed to the outlet on Wednesday.
‘I hope I can help someone else see their value. If I can lessen the pain for someone else, then I want to do it, because I didn’t have that person.’
Kevin Spacey’s sexual assault scandal began in 2017 after claims he sexually assaulted Star Trek actor Antony Rapp, who was 14 at the time, were brought to light.
It sparked accusations by other men about his behavior but none have ever reached court and have been denied.
Rapp’s public comments about him prompted Spacey to come out as gay in 2017.
Allegations: Nearly two-decades after American Beauty hit theaters, several men would come forward to make sexual assault and sexual harassment allegations against Spacey, now 61; Spacey pictured in 2017
Reminded: Once she learned of the allegations, Mena said she instantly ‘thought of that day’ on set of American Beauty, adding that her ‘heart goes out to anyone who suffers abuse’; Mena pictured in 2019
He said he did not remember such an encounter with Rapp but apologized if the allegations were true.
Last year he compared his fall from grace to the coronavirus pandemic, and complained about losing his job following the accusations.
Spacey described his ‘painful’ journey three years after he was accused of assault by a string of men and said he could relate to workers who had been laid off during the Covid-19 spread.
In comments for an interview for the Bits & Pretzels podcast, said: ‘I don’t think it will come as a surprise for anyone to say that my world completely changed in the fall of 2017.
‘My job, many of my relationships, my standing in my own industry were all gone in just a matter of hours.’
Overcoming: In her new memoir The Great Peace: A Memoir, Mena discusses experiencing sexual abuse while growing up and how she felt as if she were ‘living a double life’ amid her American Beauty fame; Mena pictured
Not only did he get fired from Netflix hit House Of Cards, he was also removed from the completed movie All The Money In The World, which was reshot with actor Christopher Plummer in his role.
Spacey, who has not appeared in a professional movie or series since the accusations were made, said: ‘I don’t often like to tell people that I can relate to their situation because I think it undermines the experience that they may be having which is their own unique and very personal experience.’
Spacey added: ‘But in this instance I feel as though I can relate to what it feels like to have your world suddenly stop.
‘And so while we may have found ourselves in similar situations, albeit for very different reasons and circumstances, I still believe that some of the emotional struggles are very much the same.
‘And so I do have empathy for what it feels like to suddenly be told that you can’t go back to work or that you might lose your job and that it’s a situation that you have absolutely no control over.’
Coming forward: Kevin Spacey’s sexual assault scandal began in 2017 after claims he sexually assaulted Star Trek actor Antony Rapp, who was 14 at the time, were brought to light; Spacey pictured in 2015
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