Tom Hanks says 'predators are everywhere' in Hollywood

Actor Tom Hanks attends the People's Choice Awards 2017. Photo / Getty

Tom Hanks believes "predators are absolutely everywhere" within Hollywood.

The 61-year-old actor has admitted he isn't surprised by the scandals emerging involving the likes of Harvey Weinstein - who allegedly sexually harassed over 80 women in a 30-year period - and Kevin Spacey, who stands accused of similar misconduct toward several males, because he thinks "predators" are rife in the entertainment industry.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter as part of their Actor's Roundtable, the 'Forrest Gump' actor said: "There's a lot of reasons people do this for a living.'

(L-R) Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Harvey Weinstein attend EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund. Photo / Getty

'Making a movie is a life experience that can create an awful lot of joy. You can meet the person you fall in love with, you can laugh your heads off. That's the good stuff.

"The bad stuff can happen on a movie as well. There are some people who go into this business because they get off on having power. And the times they feel the most powerful, which is why they went into the business, are when they are hitting on somebody who's underneath them, [and] I don't necessarily mean completely sexually. There are predators absolutely everywhere."

The 'Saving Private Ryan' star is optimistic for the future, however, as he insists it's "never too late" to change behaviours and make Hollywood a safer place.

He added: "Somebody said, 'Is it too late to change things?' No, it's never too late. It's never too late to learn new behaviours. And that's a responsibility of anybody who wants to obey a code of professional ethics."

In response to the allegations against Weinstein, the producer has been stripped of many of his accolades - including being ousted from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - and has been fired from his position as co-chairman of The Weinstein Company.

Actor Tom Hanks attends the Closing Night Gala European Premiere of Saving Mr Banks. Photo / Getty

Spacey, 58, on the other hand, has had his hit Netflix series 'House of Cards' cancelled, as well as being fired from his role in Sir Ridley Scott movie 'All the Money in the World'.

Following the misconduct allegations surrounding 65-year-old Weinstein, Hollywood stars including Brett Ratner, Louis C.K., and Jeremy Piven have also been accused of abusing their position of power.

Most recently, Matt Lauer was fired from his position as host of the 'Today' show after there was a "detailed complaint by a colleague", who accused Lauer of behaving inappropriately.