Julie Walters urges film bosses to close the gender pay gap: ‘It’s the same b***** job’

Julie Walters has called on film industry bosses to help close the gender pay gap as actresses do the “same b***** jobs” as actors do.

The outspoken British star, 67, said that she’s glad that the conversation is now being had, as many people still aren’t aware that men are paid more than women in many industries.

“It’s about equality of opportunity... It’s good that we’re talking about it. It should be out there. A lot of people don’t know that it is the case,” she told Good Housekeeping Magazine.

“Why [should male actors be paid more]? It’s the same b***** job! I think it’s wrong.”

She added: “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.

Walters’ comments come in the wake of the BBC salary row, after a published list of the BBC’s top-paid talent highlighted the glaring disparity between men and women.

The Harry Potter actress has been vocal about the lack of opportunities for working class actors in the past.

“I was lucky - I had a grant. You can’t get a grant to go to drama school now,” she said back in 2014.

“Soon the only actors are going to be privileged kids whose parents can afford to send them to drama school. That’s not right. It feels like we are going backwards.”