Kirsten Dunst reveals a male director asked her a ‘totally inappropriate question’ when she was 16 and was ‘only able to avoid the predatory side of the business because my mum was always there’

Kirsten Dunst has spoken out about the darker side of Hollywood.

The actress, 41, began her career in show business when she was cast in Interview with the Vampire at the age of 11.

In a new interview, Kirsten recalled a particular incident in which an anonymous manager asked her a “totally inappropriate” question when she was alone in his office, when she was 16, to discuss a highly sought-after position.

She said she confided the “unexpected” comment to her mother, Inez Rupprecht, who quickly removed her from the project.

“I was only able to avoid that predatory side of the business because wherever I went, my mom was literally always there,” Kirsten said. The Telegraph.

She said she confided in her mother Inez Rupprecht (pictured together in 1996) about the “unexpected” comment, who quickly removed her from the project.

“A director had me in his office, alone, and was asking me about the movie he wanted me for and then, completely out of the blue, he asked me this inappropriate question.

“Honestly, I’m not even sure he’s still working, it’s not something I like to reflect on. But I will say that what he said had nothing to do with the performance and it wasn’t that what he said was “a little off.” ‘It was totally inappropriate. And I remember sitting there and knowing something was wrong, but having no idea what I should do.’

Kirsten said her mother told them she wouldn’t do the movie after hearing the shocking comment.

The actress soon found a mentor in Sofia Coppola, who asked her during casting for 1999’s The Virgin Suicides if any director had “attacked” her before, to which Kirsten responded, “I don’t give off that vibe.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Kirsten talked about the gender pay gap between her and Tobey Maguire on Spider-Man, which she previously said was “very extreme.”

The actress had just starred in a big Hollywood movie playing a cheerleader in Bring It On.

On reflection, Kirsten said she should have asked for a much higher salary because she was “bringing something to the table,” but that she was “unaware of that,” nor of the fact that she was being paid “much, much less than Tobey.”

The actress, 41, began her career in show business when she was cast in Interview with the Vampire at the age of 11 (pictured).

Elsewhere in the interview, Kirsten talked about the gender pay gap between her and Tobey Maguire on Spider-Man, which she previously said was “very extreme.”

Kirsten returns to the big screen for the first time in almost three years with A24’s Civil War (pictured)

The actress is glad that there are many more discussions about salary happening, as she admits that she didn’t even think to question it when she worked on the films between 2002 and 2007.

After a hiatus from the industry since her award-winning role in The Power Of The Dog, Kirsten returns to the big screen for the first time in almost three years with A24’s Civil War.

She plays Lee Smith, described as a “fierce photojournalist” who risks her life covering the fictional American Civil War, where 19 states have seceded from the Union.

The actress recently revealed after winning the Oscar that all she was offered were “sad mother roles,” so she took some time to focus on motherhood.

Kirsten is married to Jesse Plemons and they have two children, whom they welcomed in 2018 and 2021.