Thandie Newton's affair at 16 with film director 23 years older than her

By Simon Cable

Last updated at 2:00 AM on 4th June 2011

Thandie Newton has revealed that she has come to terms with a traumatic relationship with a film director 23 years her senior who she claims took advantage of her innocence as a teenager.

She spoke about her six-year affair with director John Duigan which she began when she was 16 after travelling to Australia to audition for his film Flirting, which starred Nicole Kidman.

The Bafta-winning actress has said the relationship left her feeling ‘self-destructive’ and said she has only spoken about it ‘so teenagers can see they can resist and gain self-awareness’.

Affair: Thandie Newton has spoken out about her 'traumatic' relationship with a film director John Duigan, 23 years her senior, when she was 16

Speaking to InStyle magazine, Miss Newton, 38, star of Mission: Impossible II, The Pursuit of Happyness and Rock ‘n Rolla, claims Duigan took advantage of her when she was vulnerable.

She said: ‘I was a very shy, very sweet girl. I wasn’t in control of the situation. Would I have liked things to be different? Sure.

'But I can now value myself more for the way I got through it. I don’t see myself as a victim.’

She added: ‘Part of me feels grateful I can accept the difficulties that came with that situation and be a more compassionate person myself.’

Relationship: John Duigan had an affair with Thandie Newton when she was just 16

Miss Newton, an ambassador for skincare brand Olay, is happily married to director Ol Parker, with whom she has two daughters, Ripley, 11 and Nico, seven.

She said she had therapy after the affair.

She also said she never told her parents about at the time.

Asked why she had not reported it to police, she said: ‘I am my own supreme court. I judge that one.

'And in a strict legal way there might not be a case.’

Previously she has said: ‘In retrospect, although it was legal because I was 16, I was coerced.’

Duigan, now 61, lives in America.

He is believed not to have married.

His spokesman could not be contacted last night.