This story was originally published on People.com.
In 1991, Anita Hill was the subject of intense media scrutiny as she publicly testified on Capitol Hill that then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas sexually harassed her.
Hill’s experience – now the subject of HBO’s upcoming film Confirmation – was trying, and Thomas was still approved to the court. Regardless, Hill, now a professor at Brandeis University, told Today Monday that she’s accepted her part in the events.
“I’m really at peace with my role in history,” Hill told Savannah Guthrie, adding, “I don’t think I have to become at peace with him being on the Supreme Court … that was so important to the integrity of the court.”
Hill worked for Thomas at the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, and spoke out against the judge during the confirmation hearings, which were televised to an estimated 30 million households.
In Confirmation, the 59-year-old is portrayed by Scandal star Kerry Washington.
Hill told Today that she met with Washington ahead of filming, and answered questions from the actress about her mindset during her testimony.
“She just wanted to know not only how I felt but what was I thinking and that really was encouraging to have someone wanting to know – what was my thinking pattern and what was going on in my mind during this whole episode,” Hill explained, noting that parts of her experience were “quite vicious” – something the film shows “very clearly.”
Of revisiting her story on the small screen, Hill said that “It’s important for us, I think, to relive the story and continue to learn the lessons from it.”
She continued, “That’s why the film is important and having a younger audience – 25 years is a long time. An entire generation has grown up and has never really witnessed this event.”
Hill said that she has neither crossed paths with Thomas since the hearings, nor is she interested in seeing him again.
