Harry Potter and The Crown star’s plea to voters – ‘actual life is just not a movie’

Labour members will get a surprise in their inboxes on Monday evening – an email from Harry Potter star Imelda Staunton.

The award-winning actress, who plays the late Queen Elizabeth II in Netflix’s The Crown, has backed Labour’s plan to bolster the film and music industry. Staunton wrote in the party’s manifesto that Keir Starmer’s plan to improve access to the arts and creative industries will be transformative.

She has now signed a letter to Labour members praising the party and Mr Starmer who she says “need us to stand with them to win this election”. The actress has been enlisted to galvanise support for the party, with a plea to members to contribute to the Labour Party’s general election fund.

She writes: “This election is our opportunity to turn the page on the past 14 years and deliver change for Britain. We can elect a government that believes in country over party — a government that will always put what’s best for working people first.

“Look, real life is not like television or a film. There’s no director to yell cut when things go off the rails. There’s no writers’ room that can invent a happy ending for us. Instead, there’s you and me and the thousands of people working alongside us to make change happen. That’s why I am asking you to stand with me and own a piece of this campaign.”

Imelda Staunton’s letter in full

Hi there, it’s Imelda Staunton. Yes, it’s really me. I’m reaching out personally with an important request about the future of our country.

We’re facing an important choice on Thursday 4 July: will we elect a Labour government that changes our country, or suffer five more years of Tory chaos and failure? It’s time for change, but change will only happen if you vote for it.

Keir Starmer and the Labour Party understand that the status quo is broken. It’s not working for too many of our families. And they need us to stand with them to win this election.

So, I am asking you to join me by making a contribution to the Labour Party’s general election fund today. Every pound is immediately invested in the most important constituencies that Labour needs to win to take Number 10.

This election is our opportunity to turn the page on the past 14 years and deliver change for Britain. We can elect a government that believes in country over party — a government that will always put what’s best for working people first.

Look, real life is not like television or a film. There’s no director to yell cut when things go off the rails. There’s no writers’ room that can invent a happy ending for us. Instead, there’s you and me and the thousands of people working alongside us to make change happen. That’s why I am asking you to stand with me and own a piece of this campaign.

Please consider, if you can, making a contribution to Labour to elect a new government with a plan for change. With all that’s on the line, we cannot take a single vote for granted. Thank you, friends. All of us will be so proud to tell our children and grandchildren one day that, when it mattered, we did something to help give them a brighter future.