Cameron Diaz seems happy to see a change in the industry.
The Hollywood star opened up about her return to Hollywood and how much the industry evolved since her last film role in 2014.
The actress, who recently starred in Netflix’s Back in Action, appeared on the SkipIntro podcast and shared her surprise at the major shifts she encountered on set.
“The industry is so different,” Diaz said. “I definitely have to say that #MeToo changed everything. It’s palpable. You walk onto the set and it is different.”
The Charlie’s Angels star recalled how workplace culture in the film industry used to be, describing the challenges women often faced.
“It wasn’t just like the higher-ups [back then]. There was always just that one guy, you know, on set, that you were like, ‘God, here he comes again.’ There were always layers and layers of inappropriateness that you just kind of had to put up with,” she explained.
“As women, you just had to like [laugh it off]. Some people you have to be forceful with and put up the boundaries, and others you can’t give them the time of day.”
Diaz noted that things have significantly improved since her return to acting.
“It has changed. It’s not the same,” she said.
“I have never in my entire career had HR come in prior to a movie and talk about what is appropriate and what is inappropriate behavior. And there’s a hotline, which Netflix has, to call anonymously to report any issues that you might be feeling. Wow, that is amazing. The level of security of safety you feel as a woman now on set is. … I never felt that before this film.”
Diaz previously addressed her decision to step away from acting for more than a decade, explaining at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit last year that she needed to take time for herself.
“For me, it was just something I had to do,” she said. “It felt like something I had to do to reclaim my own life. And I just really didn’t care about anything else.”
Now back in the industry, Diaz’s return comes with a fresh perspective—and an appreciation for the changes that have made Hollywood a safer space for women.
