Jennifer Lawrence, Reese Witherspoon share sexual harassment claims

Jennifer Lawrence, Reese Witherspoon share sexual harassment claims
Photo credit: AAP

Jennifer Lawrence is the latest Hollywood actress to open up about a "humiliating" experience involving her sexuality, claiming she was put in a nude line-up and told to lose 15 pounds.

Dozens of women have spoken out in light of multiple allegations against film-mogul Harvey Weinstein, who is accused of sexual harassment and assault.

Actresses unified at this year's Elle Women in Hollywood event on Monday, determined to change the film industry for the better.

The mother! star said last week she did not experience harassment when she worked with Weinstein five years ago - but told the crowd "degrading" demands from bosses extend much further than the recent claims.

"When I was much younger and starting out, I was told by the producers of a film to lose 15 pounds in two weeks.

"One girl before me had already been fired for not losing weight fast enough.

"During this time a female producer had me do a nude line-up with about five women who were much, much thinner than me. And we all stood side by side with only paste-ons covering our privates.

"After that degrading and humiliating line-up, the female producer told me I should use the naked photos of myself as inspiration for my diet."

Lawrence explained she never came forward because she felt she "had to let herself be treated in a certain way… for her career" - but says seeing so many women open up has been "oddly unifying".

Reese Witherspoon, who told the crowd she was sexually assaulted by a director at only 16, agreed - saying she has "felt less alone this week than [she's] felt in her entire career".

"I wish that I could tell you that was an isolated incident in my career, but sadly it wasn't. I've had multiple experiences of harassment and sexual assault and I don't speak about them very often.

"After hearing all the stories these past few days... the things that we're kind of told to sweep under the rug and not talk about, it's made me want to speak up and speak up loudly.

"I feel really, really encouraged that there will be a new normal."

Weinstein, who has been fired from his company, denies allegations of "non-consensual sex" - but has apologised for behaving in a way that "caused a lot for pain".

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