Joanna Page opens up about sexual misconduct
Joanna Page has opened up about being "sexually bullied" by co-stars and admitted she still faces "uncomfortable" situations.
Joanna Page has opened up about being "sexually bullied" by co-stars.
The Gavin and Stacey actress believes sexual misconduct in the acting industry is still common and thinks it is particularly tough for younger women to speak out because of "huge power imbalances.
Speaking to Bryony Gordon on her The Life of Bryony podcast, she said: "I can always speak up for myself, but there have been moments where I've gone completely mute.
"There was a time working with one actor in the theatre, and oh my God, he was so full on and degrading in the language he used towards me.
"I told him that nothing was going to happen between us and the way he dealt with that was by being so derogatory.
"Then, on a different job – I had a scene with this fellow, just me and him. The sexual language he used… it was so awful, it wasn't banter.
"I remember calling the producers and saying: 'I think I have been sexually bullied."
Despite growing up at a time when women were used to "having a bit of banter and giving it back", she was unable to respons in the moment.
She said: "Women from the early 2000s, we're used to standing up for ourselves. We're used to having a bit of banter and giving it back, being a bit of a lad.
"But when the real hard stuff happens, I have found myself not being able to respond."
And one theatre director walked into her dressing room while she was naked and kissed her while she clutched a curtain around herself.
She recalled: "I had to stay there and wait it out until he left.
"I just said to myself I am not letting this curtain go and will wait for it to be over. There was such a huge power imbalance."
Even now, Joanna has faced "uncomfortable" situations but hasn't reported the incidents in case she was deemed "difficult" to work with and lost jobs as a result.
She said: "I do think actresses have more control now, and you do have a number on call sheets now you can phone if you feel you're being bullied or something uncomfortable has happened.
"But I still think this industry is so floaty and all over the place. It's run by men with money.
"I have been on jobs at this age, where uncomfortable things are going on – you know, ways you are spoken to.
"If I call that number on the call sheet – what is actually going to happen? The next day, you turn up and has that person just disappeared?
"Then everybody knows: you become the person responsible for them going and that's quite a frightening thing to take on board.
"Directors have come up to me and said, 'Look, do you want me to have a word?'
"I just go, 'No, absolutely not. That will make it really difficult for me work wise. I'll sort it out myself out now – and that's recently, like now.' "
However, Joanna was impressed by the confident attitude of the younger women who worked on the Gavin and Stacey finale and they gave her hope.
She said: "These girls, there wasn't any sense of apology or thankfulness for being there on set.
"There was a real confidence. Just like, I should be here, this is my space, I am owning my space.
"I just thought, that feels wonderful. It felt like such a change."
