Mira Sorvino grew emotional as she discussed how Harvey Weinstein "stifled" her career

Speaking on a panel at 90s Con in Hartford, Connecticut, People magazine reports she said: "When I was nominated versus won, there were clauses in my contracts that were present at the time that 'if she wins, she gets this...' But I definitely got more money because I made $10,000 for the film I won the Oscar for. I moved into a different echelon at that point.

"For me, it was definitely an upgrade in terms of scripts being offered, but I was basically not known before.

"I mean, it was my 10th film, but I wasn't a household name. I had some press on a few different projects, like 'Quiz Show' and 'Barcelona', but people didn't really know who I was. So it turned me through that Oscar season into a known actress rather than an unknown actress."

"For a time, I had a lot of wonderful offers and then, my career was stifled by Harvey Weinstein. So, I stopped doing [major] studio movies after 1998."

Growing tearful as she noted in 1998 she "rejected him the third time", Mira apologised to the audience and added: "I stopped being a viable movie actress.

"I still did indies and I still did television, but that was very hard."

The 'Shining Vale' actress "didn't know at the time what was happening" to her career, but she claimed work offers had stopped.

She added: "It became, you know, a sort of feeling like fate was just not going on my side but it was going to be just a matter of time 'till I was gonna get back my status."

But Mira - who has four children with husband Christopher Backus - admitted her focus has shifted away from her career and she doesn't find value in "being a famous actress".

She continued: "But then, I got married. I became a mother. I became a UN Goodwill Ambassador in Human Trafficking, [which has] just been a huge part of my life. It's a position I've held since 2009, officially.

"But yeah, my family. My family is my everything and I don't see my worth as being a famous actress. I see my worth as being a good person."

Weinstein, 70, was jailed for 23 years after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault in 2020 following multiple accusations. His sentence was later increased by 16 years.