Pay us the same, says Dame Julie

DAME JULIE WALTERS has added her considerable clout to the gender pay debate, insisting it’s outrageous that actresses earn less than their male counterparts, particularly in the film industry.

“It’s about equality of opportunity. It’s good that we’re talking about it. It should be out there,” the 69-year-old tells the September issue of Good Housekeeping which goes on sale on August 2.

“A lot of people don’t know that it is the case. The men were earning more money. Why? It’s the same job. It’s women who go to the cinema more generally speaking so it doesn’t make sense from that point of view either. I think it’s wrong. Equal pay is the answer.”

And having recently been bestowed the honour of a damehood in the Queen’s birthday honours list, Dame Julie admits she’s not averse to following in the footsteps of another famous dame, Judi Dench, by getting a tattoo in later life.

“I am inspired by Judi’s tattoo,” she adds, although unlike the 007 star she won’t be having the Latin phrase “carpe diem” on her wrist. She’s more likely to honour husband Grant Roffey or pay homage to her northern roots.

“My grandmother had one in the 1950s. She had the letter D on her arm but never told anyone what it stood for. I would have a symbol. Like a heart with an arrow going through it and a G for Grant! Or maybe something like ‘aye up’!”