We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rebecca Hurt a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rebecca, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

Moving to Los Angeles right before the pandemic created a lot of difficulties in my career. I felt as if I didn’t know what to do to get started and the industry was shut down so there weren’t many opportunities for me anyway. I would submit myself on things like Actor’s Access and Backstage and for months it felt like nothing was happening, but when I finally booked something I was heartbroken when the production I started working with took advantage of me due to the circumstances.

When I got a message from the people who were producing a short film I had auditioned for, I was over the moon that they wanted me to be in their film as an actress. I was excited that I had an opportunity to work while most people were still trying to survive the pandemic. They filmed in a great location and I met another woman on set that ended up becoming one of my best friends. I was excited to get out of the city and to have a breath of fresh air after being stuck in my apartment with nothing to do.

The first couple of days of the shoot quickly told me that this production didn’t have the quality that I would normally work with, but after driving to the location and making a new friend that I enjoyed working with I decided to stick it out and finish the project. The unexpected problem came when the directors began to verbally degrade me and the other women on set about our bodies and added things in the script that put us in compromising positions. I had to make a lot of tough decisions and had to stand up for myself not only as an actress but as a person.

Being on that set was honestly terrifying. I was in fear of being told nasty things about my body and I was even put in danger with stunts that they wanted us to do with no stunt coordinator. I remember crying at night wrestling with the thought of staying and letting the abuse get worse or leaving and letting the two other women on set suffer. I ended up staying and supporting my new friends and when the project was over the three of us left together reminding each other that we were more than what had happened on that set.

Since finishing the film the directors have harassed us and even tried to post pictures of us out of context to get views for their content. They have posted lies about us and even threatened us when we stood up to them. I have often thought about how this behavior is the reason why the film industry has been given a bad reputation and why women have fought to have things to protect us on and off film sets. I have had some amazing opportunities to work with intimacy coordinators and share my story to protect other women.

This whole experience has given me doubts and has come with struggles, but if my story can support other women and help remind them they are not alone then at least I am doing my part. Intimacy coordinators are needed and we must all support each other so that we can work together to stop abuse and make a difference.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Rebecca Hurt and I am originally from Jackson Tennessee. I studied Theater in college and moved to Los Angeles right after graduation to pursue my dreams. I have worked in live theater as well as TV and Film, along with the fact I am currently writing a script talking about my experience working on an abusive set and bringing awareness to the need for intimacy coordination.

I am a Marvel fan and love doing cosplay as Gwenpool and also love to do special effect makeup. My dream is to one day be the first live-action Gwenpool and to work on projects that make a difference in the world. I have a core belief that if we worked to spread love just as much as we spread hate the world would be a better place.

Currently, I study at Crash Acting Studios with Benjamin Mathes and love every second of learning and putting myself in places of opportunity.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Giving when you are able, whether it is with your support with the strike that is happening right now, or supporting local artist with their works. Live theater is a wonderful place to go and support your local artist. Even just offering space for artist to be and process their creative energy.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to provide a space for people to be themselves and to have the space to feel things that maybe they have never felt before. I want to leave the world a better place than what it was when I got here. For me, art was always there when nobody was and I want to give back as much as I can.

Contact Info:

• Website: rebeccahurt.com
• Instagram: @rhactress
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rhactress/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-hurt-38ba0b169

Image Credits
Cathryn Farnsworth Photography