Actress says sexist culture exists in Scotland

An actress has said the casting couch culture still exists in Scotland amid the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

She claims many female colleagues have told her of being sexually harassed and assaulted.

And she says some wellknown Scottish actresses have now formed an unofficial self-help group to tip each other off about sex pests and predators on set, including male directors, producers and actors.

Joanne Thomson, 27, from Glasgow, was nominated for a string of awards for her performances in the 2016 hit ITV drama In Plain Sight.

She first encountered sexist attitudes in the acting business as a young drama student.

She said: “Two wellknown TV and film directors asked me to dress up in lingerie and be filmed in various sexual positions with two actors. I was very uncomfortable with the whole idea because it sounded pornographic. But I was going to agree to it because I was scared not to.

“The directors told me not to tell anyone about it and I was so terrified I said yes’.

“Many actresses are vulnerable and want to get on in the business but I was the only girl asked to do this and I didn’t feel good about it. My then-boyfriend was angry when he found out what I had been asked to do and thankfully my friends talked me out of it.”