The producer of Pan's Labyrinth, the Oscar-winning film that partially delves into the world of abuse, may in fact have done some abusing of her own. A lawsuit was filed in Manhattan federal court yesterday against Frida Torresblanco. Her nanny, Angelica Hernandez, claims she was treated like a virtual slave.
Hernandez (who was hired in February 2007) worked up to 150 hours a week for seven months in the producer's Tribeca apartment and brought home less than $12,000. Once the Oscars came rolling in, the nanny's duties were practically 24/7 and included maid-type services as well.
Meanwhile, two white European nannies also on hand were paid more for doing less, and were reportedly treated better. Which, if true, is a little odd since Torresblanco herself is hispanic, in fact, The Hollywood Reporter named her one of the 25 most powerful Hispanic women in entertainment after the success of Pan's Labyrinth.
Torresblanco allegedly physically abused Hernandez after she attended a workshop sponsored by Domestic Workers United, an advocacy group pushing for a state law that would guarantee domestic workers overtime, sick days and other labor protections. She was then fired in September during "a violent outburst."
According to the lawyer of Torresblanco and her husband Marc Weiss, "they feel as though they are being victimized by what appears to be a fabrication."
