Image source, Reuters By Sima Kotecha and Helena Wilkinson , Reporting from Southwark Crown Court Published 15 October 2026 Warning - this report contains graphic content
A woman who alleges Russell Brand raped her in a hotel room has said he turned from "camp, friendly and effeminate" to "monster-like" before the alleged assault.
The 51-year-old actor and comedian faces seven charges - three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one of indecent assault.
The allegations, made by six female complainants, span a 10-year period between 1999 and 2009. He denies the charges.
One of the women told the jury at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday: "He was just dark and arrogant and performing - he was scary, he was demanding."
The woman told police she met Brand before he was famous while attending the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth in 1999. She alleges he later raped her.
The woman said she was left feeling "dirty" and afraid she may be pregnant in the aftermath of the alleged attack.
Before the alleged rape, the woman also said Brand made her take photos of him with his top off, which were shown to the jury.
Image source, Metropolitan Police/PA Media Image caption, The jury were shown an image the woman said she took of Brand before the alleged assault
The jury were played a police interview with the woman recorded in 2023, when reporting the alleged crime, before she was called to the witness box on Thursday.
The complainant said she and Brand had gone back to a hotel room. She told the police officer she thought Brand "was gay" when they met earlier and she didn't feel like he was "trying it on with her".
The woman said she had been in the bathroom, but when she came out "he had like briefs on - and I was like taken aback and shocked. He was prancing around".
The complainant alleged Brand told her: "Don't worry, that's how I am."
She recalled thinking "what on earth have I got into" when, she claims, a shirtless Brand made her take photos of him before the alleged attack.
She was heard telling the officer: "I'm reporting that Russell Brand did rape me.
"What I'm going to say now - then, I second guessed myself if it was rape because it was so normal.
"Sorry... he raped me basically - I know that happened. I remember him touching my breasts a lot - while kissing my neck."
During the video evidence, Brand watched the TV screen attached to the dock - rarely taking his eyes away. He appeared to be listening attentively and hardly moved his position throughout.
Image source, Julia Quenzler Image caption, During the video evidence, Russell Brand watched the tv screen attached to the dock - rarely taking his eyes away
Describing the alleged encounter, the woman later told the jury: "He was big, I felt threatened and he's half-naked... I didn't think at that point his intentions were good."
"He was the centre of the show, it was like it was back on stage – he wasn't the [same] person I was chatting to."
She added: "He just changed suddenly from this... camp, friendly and effeminate to monster-like."
The woman recounted to police how Brand acted "like Basil Fawlty when he does his goose steps" before the alleged rape.
She told the officer: "I remember him being like an ostrich - like a bird because he was very leggy.
"I wasn't laughing, I just remember him jumping up and down being silly."
The woman said after Brand left the room she was "just sitting there cry…