Sarah Solemani on why she took her Budget The Baby protest to the Bridget Jones premiere

The actress, best known for starring in Bafta-winning BBC3 sitcom Him and Her with Russell Tovey, was showing her support for a campaign to improve working conditions for parents and carers who work in the film industry
Sarah Solemani at the 'Bridget Jones' Baby' film premiere
Rex Features
Rachael Sigee8 September 2016

Accessorising her gold-beaded dress on the Bridget Jones’s Baby red carpet on Monday night, Sarah Solemani took the unusual step of brandishing a sign declaring “BUDGET THE BABY: Fund crèches on film sets #RaisingFilms”.

The actress, best known for starring in Bafta-winning BBC3 sitcom Him and Her with Russell Tovey, was showing her support for a campaign to improve working conditions for parents and carers who work in the film industry.

Solemani, who plays Bridget’s new work BFF in the film, explains that the unpredictable nature of working on sets can make it hard to be a parent and work in the industry. “As an actor I can claim a massage or a facial but I can’t claim childcare. Actors are the most pampered people on sets. It’s the crews — the electricians, catering, camerapeople — who are often on set at 4am.”

Although the stunt seemed perfectly planned thematically (the plot of the film revolves around its heroine’s unplanned pregnancy), it was an idea knocked together after a hen party last weekend when Solemani ran into her friend Line Langebek, one of the founders of Raising Films, on the night bus.

Solemani says: “We had children at around the same time so we had a shared experience of being a parent and making films. We both love film and live for it but you’re often taken away for long periods. It’s the same for every parent.”

After deciding it would be “amazing and funny” if she carried the sign, and requesting that it looked cool and was “gold to match her dress”, Solemani hit the red carpet with her message.

Dave Benett

“We’re all really grateful for being in this industry. It’s not a complaint, it’s about observing how things work and making them better. I’m sick of people asking why there aren’t enough women in film and TV. We’re aware of it and need to do something about it.”

Time is short on set. Even speaking to Solemani required a phone call from her while on location and it’s just minutes before she’s called back to work. Juggling such demand and a family is a struggle, especially as the film industry is so slow-moving. Raising Films was started 18 months ago by a group of film-makers in London who realised they were facing the same hurdles when it came to managing careers and families.

After gathering testimonials from people in the industry including Solemani, comedian and actress Alice Lowe and Night Manager director Susanne Bier, they conducted a survey to get a wider picture of the problem.

Bridget Jones' Baby UK premiere

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One of the founders, producer Nicky Bentham, who has Moon and The Silent Storm among her credits, says the campaign has identified a tangible solution to the issue of representation of women on screen, as although male and female parents and carers suffer similar issues, women are disproportionately affected.

Bentham says: “We know about the gender disparity within film and TV. A lot of celebrities have been banging that drum. We found a lot of women felt at some point they had to make a choice between career or family.”

The producer, who lives in Herne Hill and has two children aged three and six, counts the support of her family and colleagues as well as mentorship from James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli as crucial to returning to work as a parent.

The campaign wants to encourage the film industry to recognise that care for children and the elderly are serious considerations in budgets.

Follow Rachael Sigee on Twitter: @littlewondering

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