Cameron Diaz Spills on Hollywood’s Dark Past: “Layers of Inappropriateness” and the #MeToo Effect

Cameron Diaz is getting real about the major shifts in Hollywood. The Charlie’s Angels star, who recently returned to acting after a decade-long break, opened up about the dramatic changes in the industry, especially for women. According to Diaz, the difference is palpable thanks to the #MeToo movement.

“Oh God, Here He Comes Again”

During a candid chat on Netflix’s Skip Intro podcast, Diaz didn’t hold back on the uncomfortable realities she faced earlier in her career. While reflecting on how things used to be, she admitted there was more than just questionable behavior from Hollywood’s power players—problematic encounters were lurking all over the set.

“It wasn’t just the higher-ups, you know what I mean?” she revealed. “There was always just like that one guy, you know, on set that you were always going, ‘Oh God, here he comes again.’”

It’s no secret that Hollywood has had a long-standing issue with inappropriate behavior, but Diaz shed light on just how common it was behind the scenes. She described dealing with “layers and layers of inappropriateness“—things she and other women in the industry had to either laugh off or strategically avoid.

A Game-Changing Moment for Women in Film

While Diaz made her big-screen debut in 1994’s The Mask, she admitted she had never experienced the level of security and protection that exists on sets today. And she credits #MeToo for the industry-wide wake-up call.

“The industry is so different. I mean, I definitely have to say that the #MeToo movement changed everything. It’s palpable,” she shared with host Krista Smith. “You walk onto the set and it is different.”

One of the biggest game-changers? The presence of HR before filming even starts. Additionally, Diaz was pleasantly surprised to learn that Netflix provides an anonymous hotline for reporting issues.

“I’ve never in my entire career had HR come in prior to a movie and talk about what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior and a hotline, which Netflix has, to call anonymously to report any issues that you might be feeling,” she shared. “I was like, ‘Wow, that is amazing.’”

Hollywood’s “False Sense of Empowerment”

For Diaz, these changes mark a huge step forward but she also reflected on how women in her generation had to constantly be on guard. She added that the playing field has never been more balanced.

“But here we are: We’re on a more level playing field than we’ve ever been on, and it feels different. And that’s a really important thing. That’s truly a powerful thing.”

Diaz recently returned to acting with Back in Action, now streaming on Netflix.