We need TV Ice Age to kill off sexist, dinosaur bosses, says actress
(Er, the Ice Age didn’t kill the dinosaurs, Julie)
SHE is one of Scotland’s best-known TV stars thanks to roles in hit shows such as Shetland, Benidorm, Doctor Who and Doc Martin.
But Julie Graham warns such juicy parts are rare for women over 40 – and is hoping an ‘Ice Age’ hits the TV industry to freeze out the sexist ‘dinosaurs’ in charge.
The mother of two – who has also appeared in The Bill and The Bletchley Circle – said: ‘The problem is the people who are commissioning stuff. They are overlooking roles for women, especially women over 45.
‘We need more females in drama over 50 playing complex parts. There needs to be an Ice Age and dinosaurs need to be wiped out. We need fresh blood coming in.’
She added: ‘I was up for a part as a psychiatrist last year and they interviewed men and women for the part, so casting directors need to say, “Why does that part need to be played by a man? Why should that role only be for men?”. There needs to be more gender-blind casting.’
Miss Graham, 54, from Irvine, Ayrshire, spoke out at a screening of her new drama, Penance, an adaptation of Kate O’Riordan’s bestselling novel of the same name.
She plays Rosalie, a mother who is mourning the death of her son and whose vulnerability is exploited by a charming younger man – played by My Mad Fat Diary’s Nico Mirallegro, 29. Miss Graham said: ‘I jumped at the chance of playing this role.
‘Women aged 45 to 60 get pigeonholed and are seen as not really having a life any more – this drama shows they do have a rich interior life and are complex characters.
‘Scripts like this don’t land that often and it’s important to have female-led dramas. The balance needs to be redressed. It’s not that I want more than male-led dramas, we just at least want the same.’ She added: ‘There are a lot of writers out there telling stories of women, they are writing and directing and producing but just not getting the commissions.
‘Give them a job. It needs to happen quickly as I’m getting a bit old, so I am worried.’
Penance will be broadcast on Channel 5 this year, although an exact date has yet to be confirmed.