Emma Thompson has described Harvey Weinstein as a "predator" as she called on Hollywood to heed the lessons of the scandal surrounding the Hollywood producer.

Appearing on BBC's Newsnight on Thursday, the Oscar-winning actress admitted the allegations against Weinstein did not come as a shock.

"I didn't know about these things but they don't surprise me at all and they are endemic to the system anyway," she said.

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"What I find extraordinary is that this man is at the top of a very particular iceberg. I don't think you can describe him as a 'sex addict'. He's a Predator. What he is top of the ladder of, is a system of harassment and belittling and bullying and interference."

She went on: “‘Is he pestering you?’ That's the word we've used to use in the olden days, if you recall. This has been part of our world women's world since time immemorial.”

Asked if she thought there were others in Hollywood who acted like Weinstein, she said: "Of course, many, many."

The actress added: "Maybe not to that degree. Do they have to all be as bad as him to make it count? Does it only count if you really have done it to loads and loads and loads of women? Or does it count if you do it to one woman once. I think the latter.

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She said she had angry run-ins with Weinstein when negotiating over Nanny McPhee rights, and applauded the women who have spoken out against the Hollywood producer.

"There has been a conspiracy of silence and I think there will probably have been about a million and one missed opportunities to call this man out on his disgusting behavior."

The actress said Weinstein's behaviour went to the heart of gender issues in Hollywood.

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"In our system there are not nearly enough women, particularly in Hollywood, in positions in power. There aren't enough women at the top of the tree in the studios who could, perhaps, balance everything out," she said.

"Isn't it the same story as Jimmy Savile," she said, comparing the Weinstein situation with that of disgraced entertainer Jimmy Savile, who died in 2011, and was accused of a string of sexual offences over many years.

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The danger is that the industry does not heed lessons from recent events, she told interviewer Emily Maitlis.

"The most important thing is we can extrapolate from this event is what's really going on, otherwise all that's going to happen is everyone will say 'hey do you remember Jimmy Savile, do you remember Harvey Weinstein?'

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"We have to get more women in the profession in positions of power.

"I do see and hear a lot of voices, and I do want add mine to theirs and say that Hollywood can and must change."

On Tuesday, Weinstein was accused of rape by three women - claims the producer "unequivocally denies" - and his British wife Georgina Chapman announced she was leaving him.