Actress Minnie Driver Speaks Out About 'Hard Rain' Wetsuit Controversy
Actress Minnie Driver recently revealed that she was prohibited from wearing a wetsuit during the filming of 'Hard Rain' in 1998. Driver expressed that the producers insisted on not having her wear a wetsuit as they wanted to showcase her nipples, sparking a controversial decision in the industry.
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Minnie Driver. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Minnie Driver, who is 54 years old, is sharing her experience about the set conditions during the filming of the movie Hard Rain in 1998. According to Driver, she was not permitted to wear a wetsuit underneath her costume, even though there was an enormous amount of water - "20 million gallons" to be exact.
During a massive rainstorm, huge rain machines were used for the filming. Adam Driver shared on a recent episode of the “I Weigh With Jameela Jamil” podcast that they had to work long hours in tough conditions. While everyone else could wear a wetsuit under their costume for protection, he was told by the producers that he couldn't because they wanted his nipples to be visible through the wet T-shirt.
After speaking with her agent, Driver revealed that other actors refused to talk to her while on set.
She felt unfairly treated, saying, "It felt like I was being punished. It got out to the media that I had raised concerns about the working conditions, but it seemed like there was nothing wrong and I was just being difficult."
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She continued, “Eventually, you do start blaming yourself. You think, ‘It was my fault for speaking up, you should have kept quiet.’ This self-blame changes the way you see yourself and stops you from speaking out against what is wrong or dangerous because you fear punishment. This prevents you from approaching life in a balanced way since you have been repeatedly told that speaking up is wrong.”
The movie was filmed over a span of seven months and revolved around a planned bank heist during a major rainstorm in India. It featured renowned actors such as Morgan Freeman, Christian Slater, and Randy Quaid.
During a 2022 interview with The Times, Driver mentioned her experience filming Hard Rain. She remembered advocating for improved conditions on set.
She shared, "That whole idea of me being difficult stuck with me for a long time. If you spoke up and said, 'This is unacceptable,' like I often did, you were criticized."
She mentioned that she will always stand up for what is right on set. She compared herself to a lioness, ready to protect anyone being mistreated, regardless of gender. Speaking up may come with consequences, but she believes it is important to speak out against injustice.
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