Julia Sawalha slams TV bosses for typecasting her as a bitter old woman
Julia Sawalha, known for her role as Saffy in the hit BBC comedy Absolutely Fabulous, has criticized television executives for only offering her roles as a “bitter, twisted old b**ch.” The 55-year-old actress believes that outdated views about female actors still prevail in the industry.
Reflecting on her experience as an actress in her 50s, Julia expressed her frustration with the lack of glamorous roles for her age group. In an interview on the RHLSTP with Richard Herring podcast, she stated, “They’re still writing for women like we’re in the 1940s. Younger actresses are always cast opposite older actors to play the wife, and that hasn’t changed.”
Julia also disagreed with her co-star Jennifer’s opinion that “woke culture” has ruined comedy and prevented the return of Absolutely Fabulous. She argued that the show was not politically correct at the time and resonated with audiences precisely because it pushed boundaries. Julia believes that Jennifer is capable of writing in a way that addresses important issues while navigating cancel culture and “wokeness.”
During her career, Julia has appeared in various TV shows, including Press Gang, Second Thoughts, Pride and Prejudice, Jonathan Creek, Midsomer Murders, Lark Rise to Candleford, and Vera. She has also been involved in films such as Buddy’s Song, The Wind in the Willows, and provided the voice for Ginger in the original Chicken Run in 2000.
Unfortunately, Julia was not cast in the upcoming sequel, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, because her voice was considered “too old.” Despite this setback, she continues to advocate for better representation and opportunities for women in the entertainment industry.
Thandiwe Newton, 51, has taken on the role of the main character in a surprising move for the film. The iconic voice of American Cockerill Rocky, previously portrayed by Mel Gibson, has also been replaced by Zachary Levi. Romesh Ranganathan and Daniel Mays have stepped in to voice rodents Nick and Fetcher, replacing Timothy Spall and Phil Daniels. Additionally, David Bradley has taken over the role of Fowler, originally portrayed by the late actor Benjamin Whitrow. Director Sam Fell defended the changes, stating that the decision was influenced by the time gap and the current availability of actors. He emphasized the importance of being brave and moving forward with the vision for the movie. Julia, known for her previous roles, surprised fans earlier this year on The Masked Singer when she was revealed as Bubble Tea. Her co-star Jennifer, who was a guest on the panel, was left stunned by the revelation.
