Ashley Judd​ Sues Weinstein, Alleging He Sabotaged Her Career

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Actress Ashley Judd, who helped take down media mogul and accused rapist Harvey Weinstein by going public with her allegations of sexual misconduct, sued the disgraced producer Monday, alleging he defamed her because she spurned his advances.

In her lawsuit in Santa Monica Superior Court, Judd alleges Weinstein badmouthed her to "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson and production partner Fran Walsh, ruining her chance to be a part of the lucrative franchise. In December Jackson admitted as much, telling a magazine he was talked out of working with Judd and actress Mira Sorvino, who also accused Weinstein of hrassment.

"I recall Miramax telling us they were a nightmare to work with and we should avoid them at all costs. This was probably in 1998," Jackson told the Australian publication Stuff. "At the time, we had no reason to question what these guys were telling us — but in hindsight, I realize that this was very likely the Miramax smear campaign in full swing.

"I now suspect we were fed false information about both of these talented women — and as a direct result their names were removed from our casting list," he added."

Weinstein, under investigation for alleged sexual assaults in New York and Los Angeles, has denied retaliating against the actresses.

Judd's Santa Monica Superior Court complaint alleges Weinstein severely damaged her career.

RELATED: Weinstein Blacklisted Judd, Sorvino, 'Hobbit' Director Claims

"With those baseless smears, Weinstein succeeded in blacklisting Ms. Judd and destroying her ability to work on what became a multibillion-dollar franchise with 17 Academy Award wins and many more nominations," the suit states.

"... The pathetic reality, however, was that Weinstein was retaliating against Ms. Judd for rejecting his sexual demands approximately one year earlier, when he cornered her in a hotel room under the guise of discussing business," the suit states. "A self-described `benevolent dictator' who has bragged that `I can be scary,' Weinstein used his power in the entertainment industry to damage Ms. Judd's reputation and limit her ability to find work."

While Weinstein profited, actresses such as Judd can never "fully be made whole" for their lost opportunities, the suit states.

Judd is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Judd plans to donate any damages she wins to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund "so that women and men in all professions may have legal redress for sexual harassment, economic retaliation and damage to their careers."

Weinstein has previously denied having any input into casting decision involving "Lord of the Rings," which began pre-production work under the Miramax studio but later moved to New Line Cinema.

City News Service contributed to this report. NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Ashley Judd attends 'Time's Up' during the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival at Spring Studios on April 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)