For several years, Rose McGowan was one of the best known tv performers worldwide due to her appearances in major projects such as ‘Charmed’, ‘Scream’ and ‘Planet Terror’.
Her influence in the industry, especially in Hollywood, however, has been in decline over the last decade.
The Harvey Weinstein settlement and McGowan‘s clear opposition to the patriarchal structures in her field of work were key factors in her downfall and ostracism from the sector.
The origins of her acting career
Born in Italy in 1973, she moved to the United States when she was only 10 years old, and, five years later, she became completely independent from her parents.
She worked as a waitress and movie usherette in her younger years and it was not until 1990 when she got her first roles as a performer. The first steps in her career as an actress came in the form of small parts in series and films such as ‘True Colors’ and ‘Encino Man’.
She landed her first big role in 1995 with ‘The Doom Generation’, which earned her her first nomination at the Independent Spirit Awards.
Although it was not until the following year when she began to take her career more seriously and, in fact, was hired by Wes Craven to portray Tatum Riley in the first movie in one of the most highly-acclaimed horror sagas of all time: ‘Scream’ (1996).
From her ‘almost’ wedding with Manson to ‘Charmed’.
In 1997, she became closely acquainted with artist Marylin Manson which led to them very nearly becoming husband and wife.
The relationship broke down in 2001 during the peak of McGowan’s Hollywood stardom.
In the same year, she joined the cast of Charmed as Paige Matthews, the long-lost sister of the famous sorceress. She remained in the series from season four and up to the eighth instalment, for a total of 113 episodes.
Her involvement in the series was overshadowed by controversy due to her alleged bad relations with some of the cast members.
2017 – a turning point
Over the last few years, she has been involved in projects such as ‘Nip/Tuck’, ‘Death Proof’, ‘Conan the Barbarian’ and ‘Once Upon a Time’.
The year 2017, however, was a turning point in her career, as she publicly accused the well-known producer Harvey Weinstein of having raped her when she was 23 years old.
She also directed a series of indictments towards the Hollywood industry for keeping quiet for decades in the face of acts of serious sexual harassment.
Her role in the Me Too campaign and her continuous statements marginalised her from many top roles.
She eventually left her life in the United States behind, favouring a move to Mexico City where she remains.