Ray Winstone has claimed he confronted an unnamed director after allegedly witnessing the filmmaker “groping” an actress.
Ray Winstone claims he confronted a director for allegedly “groping” an actress – admitting he has “given someone a slap” on set for behaving badly.
The 69-year-old actor called out the unnamed filmmaker after witnessing the alleged incident, warning him not to do it again before the matter was “dealt with”.
Ray told The Sunday Times’ Culture magazine: “I had this director once. I was in a scene where I had to pick up this girl, and the director wanted to show me what to do. But he was groping her.
“That was it. I said, ‘Don’t you dare do that.’ He abused his power, took advantage, and she was a good kid, you know, who seemed a little lost.
“Anyway, it was dealt with.”
Asked to clarify how the incident was “dealt with”, Ray added: “Well, back in the day, if there was a wrong ’un on set, 99 times out of 100 it was sorted, either by the hairy-a*** riggers or sparks [meaning various members of the film crew].
“I’ve done it myself too, taken someone to the side to give them a slap or to tell them, in no uncertain terms, to behave. But it’s a different world today.”
Ray has enjoyed a hugely successful acting career spanning more than five decades, appearing in a string of crime thrillers, including 2000’s Sexy Beast and 2006’s The Departed.
But his latest role as Bobby Glass in the Netflix action-comedy series The Gentleman has reminded the screen hardman that he is “getting old”.
Ray added: “When you’re not the young lead but the old boy, who everyone says they’ve got to look after because he’s getting on a bit.”
Despite that, the Scum legend has no plans to slow down.
Ray joked: “Well, you’ve got to pay the taxman, haven’t you?”
In May 2025, the Quadrophenia alum said he wants to move to Italy full-time so he can enjoy a life in the sunshine with his wife Elaine.
However, Ray would still go “backwards and forwards” to the UK because he wants to spend time with their daughters, actress’ Lois Winstone, 44, Jaime Winstone, 41, and Ellie Rae Winstone, 25, and grandchildren as they are growing up.
The Sweeney cast member told the Daily Star: “I’m backwards and forwards from here to Sicily. My family is here in England; my kids are here.
“But when we get a chance me and Elaine have a little scoot. I’m 68 now; I want to rest in the sun … I’m getting old, ain’t I.”
Ray Winstone confronted director over alleged on-set ‘groping’
