Brian Cox and Simon Pegg among British stars rallying in support of Hollywood strike: ‘AI is taking our jobs’
Actors including Brian Cox, Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis have told Sky News of their fears about AI as they rallied in support of the Hollywood strike.
Dozens of British stars turned out to London’s Leicester Square on Friday for the demonstration, which was organised by British acting union Equity in solidarity with performers in the US.
It comes after 160,000 members of SAG-AFTRA in the US walked out last week in protest over pay and conditions – including concerns over the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry.
The action has brought Hollywood to a virtual standstill, forcing many film and TV productions to shut down, and marks the first time in more than 60 years that both actors and writers have gone on strike.
Members of the Writers Guild of America union launched a separate walkout two months ago.
Equity actors cannot legally take part in the strikes in the UK – but can if they are working in the US and are also SAG-AFTRA members. However, the walkouts have already had a knock-on effect on productions in Britain.
Succession star Brian Cox said the issues involved were of concern for performers around the world.
He told Sky News: “This is a major strike that’s happening in the States and we need to support them.
“We’ll be under siege next, we’re already under siege, particularly with artificial intelligence, and it’s something that has to be stopped and nipped in the bud.”
The crowd in Leicester Square, London
Mr Cox also called for greater regulation of the industry in the UK – or as he put it: “Legislation that says ‘AI f*** off'”.
The Crown star Imelda Staunton said pay was also a major issue for struggling performers in the industry, but said technological advancements had added to anxiety across the profession.
“The issues that are being raised about streaming and AI are all issues that really need addressing.
“This is a global problem, this isn’t America or England, it’s all over,” she told Sky News.
Read more:
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Succession star Brian Cox says Hollywood strike could last until end of 2023
Other stars at the rally included Rob Delaney, Jim Carter, Naomie Harris and Penelope Wilton.
Some protesters carried signs reading: “Leave AI to Sci-fi,” “Write to Strike” and “This Barbie’s last residual was $0.02”.
Shaun of the Dead writer and star Simon Pegg, who is a member of both SAG-AFTRA and Equity, described the industrial action as a “tipping point” after years of concern over pay and the impact of streaming services such as Netflix.
Actor Andy Serkis said he was hopeful the strike would end in victory for workers
He told Sky News: “AI is worrying too, because we’re looking at being replaced in some ways.
“And they want to scan the faces of background artists and then use their image in perpetuity, which is incredibly unreasonable, because they could use them for anything.
“We have to be compensated and we have to have some say in how it’s used.
“I don’t want to turn up in an advert for something I disagree with, some fossil fuel company, because I’m fundamentally opposed to them. I want to be able to hang on to my image, and voice, and know where it’s going.”
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Uncharted territory for Hollywood
Hayley Atwell, who stars in the new release Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, said the industry needed a “course correct” as bosses had failed to keep up with rapid technological advancements.
“We have the existential threat of AI taking human jobs, that means that it’s a more precarious situation than ever before,” she told Sky News.
“This is a time to adapt to that and regulate it, so that people who are creating content can continue to do so and make a fair living wage from it.”
She added: “We’re striking and it’s absolutely the right thing to do. I’m 100% in support of it. [But] it’s awful because it’s a last resort for everyone. We don’t want to strike but we’ve been stonewalled.”
Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis, who described himself as “one of the most scanned actors on the planet”, said he was hopeful strikers in the US – and actors across the world – would eventually win their fight.
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Zoe Saldana backs actors’ strike
He told Sky News: “I think there’s unquestionably going to be a victory for SAG, for the Writer’s Guild, for Equity, it’s going to come out positive. They are going to hold on this time.”
Serkis also said he had grave concerns over the future of AI, adding: “Artists are becoming severely undervalued. We think actors going on strike is a bit of a joke, [but] when the pandemic was happening, what was everyone doing for two years inside? They were watching shows…
“It’s a very important job. It’s a service and you just want to be paid a reasonable wage.”
Industry body the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents major film and TV studios in the US, says it has offered better terms and conditions, while it also accused SAG-AFTRA of walking away from negotiations.
The union has rejected the claims and said its members would remain on strike indefinitely until concessions were made.
The impasse has prompted fears the dispute could drag on and delay the release of major films and TV programmes later this year, while also causing disruption to major industry events such as the 75th Emmy TV awards, which is scheduled to be held in September.
Sir Keir Starmer has joined other European leaders in Kyiv to press Russia to agree an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.
The prime minister is attending the summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, recently-elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
It is the first time the leaders of the four countries have travelled to Ukraine at the same time – arriving in the capital by train – with their meeting hosted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz travelling in the saloon car of a special train to Kyiv. Pic: Reuters
Leaders arrive in Kyiv by train. Pic: PA
It comes after Donald Trump called for “ideally” a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow, and warned that if any pause in the fighting is not respected “the US and its partners will impose further sanctions”.
Security and defence analyst Michael Clarke told Sky News presenter Samantha Washington the European leaders are “rowing in behind” the US president, who referred to his “European allies” for the first time in this context in a post on his Truth Social platform.
“So this meeting is all about heaping pressure on the Russians to go along with the American proposal,” he said.
“It’s the closest the Europeans and the US have been for about three months on this issue.”
Sir Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron among world leaders in Kyiv. Pic: AP
Trump calls for ceasefire. Pic: Truth Social
Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine and its allies are ready for a “full, unconditional ceasefire” for at least 30 days starting on Monday.
Ahead of the meeting on Saturday, Sir Keir, Mr Macron, Mr Tusk and Mr Merz released a joint statement.
European leaders show solidarity – but await Trump’s backing
The hope is Russia’s unilateral ceasefire, such as it’s worth, can be extended for a month to give peace a chance.
But ahead of the meeting, Ukrainian sources told Sky News they are still waiting for President Donald Trump to put his full weight behind the idea.
The US leader has said a 30-day ceasefire would be ideal, but has shown no willingness yet for putting pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin to agree.
The Russians say a ceasefire can only come after a peace deal can be reached.
European allies are still putting their hopes in a negotiated end to the war despite Moscow’s intransigence and President Trump’s apparent one-sided approach favouring Russia.
Ukrainians would prefer to be given enough economic and military support to secure victory.
But in over three years, despite its massive economic superiority to Russia and its access to more advanced military technology, Europe has not found the political will to give Kyiv the means to win.
Until they do, Vladimir Putin may decide it is still worth pursuing this war despite its massive cost in men and materiel on both sides.
“We reiterate our backing for President Trump’s calls for a peace deal and call on Russia to stop obstructing efforts to secure an enduring peace,” they said.
“Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.”
Sir Keir and Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting in March. Pic: AP
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Putin’s Victory Day parade explained
The leaders said they were “ready to support peace talks as soon as possible”.
But they warned that they would continue to “ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine” until Moscow agrees to a lasting ceasefire.
“We are clear the bloodshed must end, Russia must stop its illegal invasion, and Ukraine must be able to prosper as a safe, secure and sovereign nation within its internationally recognised borders for generations to come,” their statement added.
“We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine.”
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The European leaders are set to visit the Maidan, a central square in Ukraine’s capital where flags represent those who died in the war.
They are also expected to host a virtual meeting for other leaders in the “coalition of the willing” to update them on progress towards a peacekeeping force.
Military officers from around 30 countries have been involved in drawing up plans for a coalition, which would provide a peacekeeping force in the event of a ceasefire being agreed between Russia and Ukraine.
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This force “would help regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces after any peace deal and strengthen confidence in any future peace”, according to Number 10.
A special constable has been jailed after taking pictures on his phone from bodycam footage showing a dying man.
Former police volunteer William Heggs, 23, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment at Leicester Crown Court on Friday after showing the photos of victim William Harty, 28, to a female colleague and storing them on his Snapchat account.
Mr Harty was found seriously injured in a residential street in Leicester on 25 October 2021 and Heggs had attended the scene, helping with CPR before paramedics arrived.
Mr Harty died in hospital a day later and the man responsible for his injuries, his brother-in-law Martin Casey, was subsequently convicted of his manslaughter.
Heggs showed the pictures he had taken of bodycam footage of Mr Harty’s body to a Leicestershire Police constable, who reported Heggs and said she did not like seeing blood.
His phone was seized and officers discovered other photographs and video clips of bodyworn footage of incidents Heggs had attended on duty, including of a knife seizure, use of baton and pepper spray, and a man with an injured hand receiving first aid.
He also took pictures of a police computer screen, showing details of crimes and suspects, without consent.
Heggs stored the materials in a Snapchat folder and disclosed graphic details – most of which were not in the public domain – about the injuries to a woman who was killed in a road traffic collision he had attended, to a friend on the social media platform.
Heggs was suspended from the force in November 2021 and resigned in October 2024 before pleading guilty to 11 computer misuse and data protection offences this March.
William Harty’s widow Mandy Casey. Pic: PA
‘He has traumatised me’
Mr Harty’s widow, Mandy Casey, said in a victim impact statement read to the court that Heggs “took (her) husband’s dignity when he was most vulnerable”.
“You don’t take someone’s dignity and pride from them on their deathbed.”
She continued: “When I found out special constable Heggs had done this, I just wanted to ask why. He has traumatised me. I feel I will never know if he showed them to others.”
Ms Casey said she was still scared that photos of her husband’s body might appear on social media.
She added that she had lost trust in the police.
Public trust in police ‘significantly undermined’
Judge Timothy Spencer told Heggs, who has autism and ADHD, that he was “probably too immature to be working as a police officer” as he handed down the sentence.
He said Heggs had received “extensive training”, including on the importance of data protection, and knew he should only share materials for “a genuine policing purpose”.
Heggs’s actions had “significantly undermined” public trust and confidence in police, according to the judge.
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Malcolm McHaffie, from the Crown Prosecution Service, added: “William Heggs abused the public’s trust in the office he held as a special police constable.
“He violated the dignity of the deceased victims for no apparent reason other than what could be considered personal fascination and to gain credibility among his peers.”
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