Zoe Wanamaker has called out ‘bullies’ and unequal pay for actors (Picture: Idil Sukan)

Zoe Wanamaker has spoken out against the ‘bullies’ in the acting industry that have prohibited her in her career.

The British actor, known from the TV series My Family, and for playing Madam Hooch in Harry Potter, insists times are finally changing for actors, who have long been subject to unfair and unequal treatment.

Zoe, who graduated from drama school in the Seventies, has long been a campaigner for fairness and equality for actors. She told The Big Issue: ‘The acting industry is now going to change course, at last.

‘It has been a long evolution through intimidation and going against people trying to keep someone in their place, which is what all bullies try to do’.


Zoe Wanamaker has been ‘reluctant’ to take roles because of unfair pay (Picture: WireImage)

The actor’s ‘wish’ is that pay was equal, regardless of gender or bias, and has revealed that she has been ‘reluctant’ to take roles in the past because she has felt unfairly treated.



Zoe is currently starring in a new production of Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party, directed by Ian Rickson, at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

She stars as Meg in the landmark play, alongside a stellar, all-star cast including Toby Jones, Stephen Mangan and Pearl Mackie.

Toby Jones leads the cast of The Birthday Party (Picture: Sonia Friedman Productions)

Pinter’s darkly comic play is set within a sleepy boarding house on the coast, where Stanley Webber, played by Toby Jones, lodges with Meg (Zoe Wanamaker) and Petey Boles (Peter Wight).

On the seemingly normal occasion of a birthday party, the surprise arrival of a set of strangers disturbs the peace, and casts a strange new light on the everyday proceedings of the inhabitants.

Zoe will soon star in new ITV drama Girlfriends as ‘jealous old bat’ Gail, who gets cold feet ahead of her divorce from second husband, Dave.

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Girlfriends has been created by Kay Mellor, and documents the lives of three friends whose lives get ever more complicated with increasing age.

The Birthday Party runs at the Harold Pinter Theatre until 14 April, find out more about buy tickets here.

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