20 January 2023 , 21:24
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Soap star Louise Jameson says ageism is rife in the TV industry and she often gets asked to audition for parts described as ‘Old Lady’.
The 71-year-old, who plays Mary Goskirk in Emmerdale, recently took on a major storyline in which her character came out as a lesbian in later life.
But the actress, who is famed for her role in sci-fi hit Doctor Who, says the rest of the industry doesn’t treat older performers with enough respect.
Louise said: “For a lot of shows, I do self-tapes for ‘Old Lady’. They don’t even give the character a name sometimes.
Springboard
Louise Jameson says ageism is rife in the TV industry (ITV)“There’s a lot happening in the 70-plus world – and in the 80-plus world, a friend who couldn’t get insurance because of the virus [Covid-19] lost a regular role on a TV series.
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“She’s healthy, she does Pilates twice a week, she walks… she’s as fit as I am.
“I did a Doctors [ BBC drama] recently. They went, ‘Oh, you have white hair now. We’ll put a zimmer frame in the corner of the room.’ You think, ‘Really?!’
“I don’t want to decry Doctors because it is a show I really like. But I feel that I need to make these statements.
“Perhaps if I get the ear of the storyliner when I do a job playing ‘Old Lady’… just gently trying to do something from within.“
She discussed ageism in the TV industry (ITV)Louise, who played Doctor Who’s Leela opposite Tom Baker from 1977 to 1978, is still active in the sci-fi hit’s world and can be heard on the new Torchwood audio adventure, Double.
She joined the cast of Emmerdale in 2022 and has signed to stay on the ITV soap until at least next year.
And Louise, who also appeared as Rosa di Marco in EastEnders in the late 1990s, is excited that her Dales character Mary will get to explore her sexuality as an
older woman.
Louise said: “It is a huge jumping off point. It is another story that isn’t told.
Louise was in Doctor Who as Leela (Mirrorpix)
She's still active in the sci-fi genre (Mirrorpix) “Whether you’re gay, straight or whatever, what’s your proclivity
at 70?
“I have a springboard. I’ve spent a lot of time going, ‘I’ve never even kissed a woman! What am I going to do? I’m going to live the rest of my life alone!’
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“But watch this space… something is going to materialise.
“Mary is investigating what she could do to find a
life partner. She is exploring the possibilities for her.”