At the same time, struggles were brewing behind the scenes that few knew about. In the early 1990s, McGowan developed an eating disorder in a desperate attempt to shrink her weight to 84 pounds (38 kg), trying to match the models in magazines.
Battling eating disorder
“I never was able to get below 92 pounds (42 kg),” she later wrote. “I felt like a failure.”
Her battle with the eating disorder came to an end in early 1993 when she met Brett Cantor, co-owner of Hollywood’s Dragonfly nightclub. Tragically, Cantor was fatally stabbed in his home that July, and she later said his death left her “shattered.” The case remains unsolved to this day.
In 1997, she began a romantic relationship with rock musician Marilyn Manson. She described him as “one of the sweetest people you could ever meet” and said their relationship offered her a break from the pressures of responsibility.
“I ran away with the circus. That’s what I needed for 3½ years. I just needed to not be responsible — to have fun. Then, eventually, I kind of grew up,” she reflected. The couple got engaged in February 1999 but ultimately split in 2001.
MeeToo movement: ”I was the first”
Beyond her acting, Rose McGowan is known for one thing that shook the world
In October 2017, Rose McGowan went public with a shocking allegation: she accused former Miramax boss Harvey Weinstein of rape. Her brave move sparked a movement, shining a light on the widespread sexual abuse in Hollywood.
“I’ve been called one of the first to speak out. No. I was the first. I called the New York Times. I blew it wide open, not them. They won the Pulitzer and I’m the one hard-up for money. It’s disgusting. I was kind of grossed out by how much they enjoyed being lauded,” she told The Guardian.
The Scream star said Weinstein assaulted her back in 1997 at the Sundance Film Festival and claimed she had even spoken out to her Phantoms co-star Ben Affleck, accusing him of being part of the cover-up. She also revealed that during her time on Charmed, she faced a toxic work environment on set.
Once her story came out, it quickly snowballed. More women in the entertainment industry stepped forward, sharing similar experiences. In total, over 80 women accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct.
The movement grew even bigger as survivors encouraged others to share their stories online using the hashtag #MeToo, bringing the staggering scale of the issue into the public eye and sparking conversations across society.
In December 2021, a federal judge dismissed the racketeering lawsuit Rose McGowan had filed back in October 2019 against Harvey Weinstein.
Living in Mexico
As of now, McGowan has moved from New York to Mexico, becoming a permanent resident and making her home in Tulum, Quintana Roo. She has said she doesn’t plan on returning to the United States.
“My father lived in Mexico for 35 years and mi gusta Mexico. Te quiero much, mi amores. It is an incredible country. It is so wildly geographically diverse, culturally diverse and just very, very special. There’s so much joy,” she shared during a Charmed panel at 90s Con 2025.
In another interview, the actress revealed that she never felt at ease with the fame that came with acting:
“I found being reacted to for something that wasn’t me deeply embarrassing,” she says. “It didn’t give me a rush. It was the opposite for me, and I looked at it like, this is my day job, it’s just extraordinarily strange.”
Rose McGowan has also revealed that a provocative 2007 photo shoot with Rosario Dawson was the turning point when she grew fed up with being treated as a sex symbol.
“I was on the cover of Rolling Stone with a fake tan and gun belt around me and breasts,” she told art publication Flatt.
“I just was like, ‘I’ve had it. I’m like sick of being sexualized.’”
She admitted that the experience made her step back from Hollywood: she “checked out” and realized, “I wasn’t meant to be an actress.”
Rose is a remarkable, articulate, and passionate woman. Thank you for everything you’ve done to speak out, inspire, and make a difference — your courage and voice have touched the world.