Hugh Bonneville doesn't believe Harvey Weinstein's films should be ignored in the wake of his imprisonment because the producer created some "memorable art".
Hugh Bonneville
The 57-year-old actor believes that art should exist for what it is and that people's work should be considered outside of any controversial views they have or any wrongdoings they may commit, citing the disgraced producer - who is currently in jail for rape and sexual assault and has been accused of sexual misconduct by dozens of women - as an example of how it is possible to appreciate someone's craft without condoning their views or actions.
He said: "I think there is a pendulum swinging at the moment to do with cancel culture - that all the films of Harvey Weinstein should be burned or something.
"But actually, the art that he produced was memorable in our contemporary culture.
"So I think there is a discussion to be had certainly, and one that must hold these things in balance without condoning in any way the [offensive] views."
The 'Downton Abbey' star made the comments while speaking about his latest role as children's author Roald Dahl, who he portrays in new Sky Originals movie 'To Olivia', and insisted he "decries" the late writer's anti-Semitic views but didn't reference them in his work as they were "not relevant to this particular performance".
Asked about the author's views on podcast 'Loose Ends', he said: "You have to hold in balance the work someone creates and the personality.
"You despise the views of the person but the work that they produce may be of the highest form of art, or at least popular form of art."
Hugh was also asked about how some people are "troubled" by the possible racist connotations of Dahl's Oompa Loompas in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and said he accepted "these things are picked over these days".
The 'Paddington' star also questioned how far people can push boundaries in their work without being offensive.
He asked: "What dark corners are we allowed to explore and not explore?"
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