Updated October 10, 2017 13:00:05

Photo: Meryl Streep said she did not know about allegations Weinstein had sexually harassed women. (Reuters/AP)

Meryl Streep and Judi Dench, two of Hollywood's most respected actresses, have lashed out at movie producer Harvey Weinstein but said they were unaware of his decades of alleged sexual harassment of women.

Streep, who has won three Oscars, had been under pressure to speak out after a New York Times investigation last week detailed claims by multiple women of unwanted physical contact and harassment by Weinstein over three decades.

Weinstein, who initially apologised but later threatened to sue, has since been fired as co-chairman of the Weinstein Company due to the fallout from the Times story, but has not been charged with any crimes.

Dench, Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Judd Apatow, and Lena Dunham — some of whom had close ties to Weinstein before the scandal — were among those to speak out after the news broke.

There's a generation of Hollywood powerbrokers who've acted like it's still the Stone Age, and as Cameron William writes, it looks like they're no longer going to get away with it.

Streep, who in 2012 called Weinstein "God" in a Golden Globe acceptance speech and appeared in numerous films produced by him, said the "disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed".

But Streep said in a statement to the Huffington Post that she did not know about the reported claims that he had undressed in front of actresses and assistants or asked young women to give him massages.

"Harvey supported the work fiercely, was exasperating but respectful with me in our working relationship, and with many others with whom he worked professionally," Streep said.

"I did not know about his having meetings in his hotel room, his bathroom, or other inappropriate, coercive acts."

Actresses Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan are among those who have said Weinstein sexually harassed them.

"The behaviour is inexcusable, but the abuse of power familiar," Streep said.

"Each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited by our watchdog media will ultimately change the game."

Weinstein, who produced or distributed Oscar-winning movies like Shakespeare in Love and Chicago, is the latest US media or entertainment industry titan to face sexual harassment accusations.

If you've seen Pulp Fiction, Silver Linings Playbook or the Spy Kids films, you already know more about Harvey Weinstein than you might think.

Dench, who was once so close to Weinstein the two have joked that she has a tattoo of his name on her buttocks, issued a statement that she was "completely unaware" of "horrifying" sexual harassment claims despite their ties.

"Whilst there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past 20 years, I was completely unaware of these offences which are, of course, horrifying," the statement said.

"I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and wholehearted support to those who have spoken out."

At Fox News, late chief executive officer Roger Ailes was forced out of the company in last year after being accused of sexual harassment, and popular anchor Bill O'Reilly had to resign in April on similar grounds.

Both denied the allegations.

More than 50 women have accused comedian Bill Cosby of sexual assault, and he faces a retrial in April on the one criminal case against him.

Wires/ABC

Topics: law-crime-and-justice, sexual-offences, arts-and-entertainment, film-movies, united-states

First posted October 10, 2017 06:24:49