Cameron Diaz Says She's Dealt with 'Layers of Inappropriateness' on Sets: 'It Wasn't Just the Higher-Ups'

Mar. 15, 2025

Cameron Diaz on Jan. 15, 2025.Photo:Sebastian Reuter/Getty

Sebastian Reuter/Getty

Cameron Diazis reflecting on how Hollywood has changed for women since the #MeToo movement.TheBack in Actionactress spoke about her return to movies after a 10-year hiatus while onNetflix’sSkip Intropodcast, at one point expressing how the job has more “security and safety” than earlier in her career.“The industry is so different. I mean, I definitely have to say that the #MeToo movement changed everything. It’s palpable,” she told host Krista Smith on the Jan. 17 episode. “You walk onto the set and it is different.““It wasn’t just the higher-ups, you know what I mean? There was always just like that one guy, you know, on set that you were always going, ‘Oh God, here he comes again,’ " theCharlie’s Angelsactress explained.Diaz said there were “always layers and layers of inappropriateness” that she and other women had to laugh off and put up with.Cameron Diaz on Oct. 14, 2024.Presley Ann/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“Some people you have to be forceful with and put up the boundaries. Others, you can’t give them the time of day,” she said. “But it has changed. It’s not the same.“The star, who had her breakout role in 1994’sThe Mask, added, “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. I was like, ‘Wow, that is amazing.’ ““The level of security and safety you feel as a woman now on set is — I had never felt that before this film,” said Diaz ofBack in Action, her first film since doing 2014’sAnnieremake. “… #MeToo happened several years after I stopped making movies.“Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx in “Back in Action”.John Wilson/NetflixThe PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Additionally, Diaz said “our generation” of women in Hollywood were “so conditioned to walking the tightrope.““And tightropes are dangerous,” she continued. “But when you get good at walking the tightrope and you can, like, manage it all, there is some sort of empowerment that you feel. But it’s a false sense of empowerment, because what you’re really doing is just staving off the inevitable, which is at any moment something could crush you that’s bigger than you.““That’s not safe. That’s not safety. That’s just you doing your best and pushing what we have as women, which is power in ourselves, to not be crushed as much as you can,” said Diaz.“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.“Back in Actionis now streaming on Netflix.

Cameron Diazis reflecting on how Hollywood has changed for women since the #MeToo movement.

TheBack in Actionactress spoke about her return to movies after a 10-year hiatus while onNetflix’sSkip Intropodcast, at one point expressing how the job has more “security and safety” than earlier in her career.

“The industry is so different. I mean, I definitely have to say that the #MeToo movement changed everything. It’s palpable,” she told host Krista Smith on the Jan. 17 episode. “You walk onto the set and it is different.”

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

Diaz said there were “always layers and layers of inappropriateness” that she and other women had to laugh off and put up with.

Cameron Diaz on Oct. 14, 2024.Presley Ann/Getty

Presley Ann/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Some people you have to be forceful with and put up the boundaries. Others, you can’t give them the time of day,” she said. “But it has changed. It’s not the same.”

The star, who had her breakout role in 1994’sThe Mask, added, “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. I was like, ‘Wow, that is amazing.’ "

“The level of security and safety you feel as a woman now on set is — I had never felt that before this film,” said Diaz ofBack in Action, her first film since doing 2014’sAnnieremake. “… #MeToo happened several years after I stopped making movies.”

Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx in “Back in Action”.John Wilson/Netflix

John Wilson/Netflix

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Additionally, Diaz said “our generation” of women in Hollywood were “so conditioned to walking the tightrope.”

“And tightropes are dangerous,” she continued. “But when you get good at walking the tightrope and you can, like, manage it all, there is some sort of empowerment that you feel. But it’s a false sense of empowerment, because what you’re really doing is just staving off the inevitable, which is at any moment something could crush you that’s bigger than you.”

“That’s not safe. That’s not safety. That’s just you doing your best and pushing what we have as women, which is power in ourselves, to not be crushed as much as you can,” said Diaz.

“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.”

Back in Actionis now streaming on Netflix.

source: people.com