At 90, Woody Allen’s hands trembled slightly as he sat under the dim light of a New York apartment, a lifetime of stories and scandals etched into every line on his face.T

In late 2025, as Woody Allen approached his 90th birthday on November 30, the reclusive filmmaker granted a series of uncommon interviews — a departure from his usual avoidance of the spotlight. These conversations, including in-depth sessions with podcasters, journalists, and longtime acquaintances, revealed a man reflective yet unrepentant, frail in voice but sharp in memory. At an age when most retreat fully into privacy, Allen spoke candidly about his life, career, and the controversies that have shadowed him for decades.

The most striking moments came when Allen addressed his association with Jeffrey Epstein. In one exchange, amid the release of new photographs from Epstein’s estate showing the two men in intimate settings, Allen described the disgraced financier as “charming and personable.” He expressed no regret for their friendship, noting that during their time as neighbors, he saw no evidence of underage individuals in Epstein’s company. This unapologetic stance stunned observers, evoking the web of powerful connections Epstein cultivated among Hollywood and New York’s elite — networks long whispered about but rarely acknowledged so directly by a surviving participant.

Allen’s words carried an undercurrent of veiled allusion to broader Hollywood secrets: the unspoken alliances, the protection of influential figures, and the silence that has shielded certain behaviors for generations. Without naming names beyond Epstein, his comments hinted at a culture where charisma and status often overshadowed scrutiny — a system he navigated for over 50 films.

Yet the interviews were marked by fragility. Allen, now navigating the twilight of his career, mourned the recent passing of Diane Keaton, his former partner and muse, calling the world “drearier” without her. He reflected on lost thrills in filmmaking, the challenges of funding amid ongoing boycotts, and even praised unlikely figures like Donald Trump for his brief cameo professionalism. On the persistent allegations from his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow — which he has always denied — Allen maintained his innocence with weary detachment, dismissing cancel culture as misguided.

These rare appearances weren’t a full confessional but a quiet reckoning. At 90, Allen seemed to break a self-imposed silence not to seek redemption, but to affirm his version of events in a world that has largely moved on without him. His hints at deeper Hollywood undercurrents — the Epstein ties, the elite protections — linger as uncomfortable reminders of secrets too entrenched to fully unearth. In a voice softened by age, Allen ensured his narrative endures, fragile yet defiant, long after the interviews fade.