Amanda Redman, 65, slams the ‘archaic under-representation’ of women over 50 on television

Amanda Redman has slammed the ‘archaic under-representation’ of women over 50 on television.

The New Tricks actress, 65, said it makes her ‘blood boil’ when she sees opportunities for women on screen start to decrease when they pass 50.

Speaking to The Mirror, she said: ‘As an actor, what you bring is your experience of life, too. You’ve lived and all the experiences that you’ve had in life inform the characters you play.

Fury: Amanda Redman has slammed the ‘archaic under-representation’ of women over 50 on television (pictured 2020)

‘And what’s wrong, I feel, is that my male peers don’t have the same issues. They do carry on. It’s an archaic way of looking at females.

Adding that the demographic of people watching TV are woman over 50, she said: ‘And so it seems to me to be very short-sighted. And it makes my blood boil. It’s so wrong. Many of us, many of my contemporaries, feel the same way as I do.’

Amanda said the under-representation makes women feel ‘that they aren’t important anymore’ and is damaging to mental health.

The star, who marked her 65th birthday on Friday so she had no plans to celebrate the milestone and didn’t find ‘any redeeming factors’ in ageing due to aches and pains and losing loved ones. 

TV: The New Tricks actress, 65, said it makes her ‘blood boil’ when she sees opportunities for women on screen start to decrease when they pass 50 – pictured as Superintendent Sandra Pullman on the show, a role she played from 2003-2013

Last month Amanda revealed her New Tricks co-star Dennis Waterman‘s death ‘knocked me sideways’. 

The legendary TV actor died in May at the age of 74 following a secret two-year battle with lung cancer.

And two months after his passing, Amanda, Dennis’ long time friend of 40 years admitted she’s struggled to come to terms with his death as she said: ‘I don’t really accept he’s not here anymore.’  

When Dennis’ death was announced by his family, Amanda was too distraught to share a public tribute, with her daughter Emily taking to Twitter on her behalf.

She wrote: ‘Hi everyone, it’s Emily (Amanda’s daughter). She has seen and is grateful for your messages but can’t respond – the grief is too personal and private. Thank you for understanding. E x’ 

Screen star: Amanda said the under-representation makes women feel ‘that they aren’t important anymore’ and is damaging to mental health (pictured on The Good Karma Hospital in 2018 aged 62)

 Opening up on the pain of losing her friend, whom she worked with for a decade on New Tricks, Amanda told The Mirror: ‘It knocked me sideways, no one knew he was ill to that extent. His wife phoned me, it was incredibly difficult. I was very lucky because my daughter was staying with me at that point. So thank god she was there.’  

She went on to say that the day after Dennis’ death, she attended a memorial service following the death of another friend, telling how it was ‘a tricky weekend’.

The actress went on to recall ‘wonderful, wonderful memories’ with Dennis, including all-night karaoke sessions they had alongside their partners, adding that it was ‘great fun’ and her pal had a ‘strong presence.’

Distraught: Amanda  recently revealed her New Tricks co-star Dennis Waterman’s death ‘knocked me sideways’ (pictured together in 2007)

Tragic: The legendary TV actor died in May at the age of 74 following a secret two-year battle with lung cancer

She shared: ‘He was a very shy man, but amongst people that he knew very well he just was so charismatic and the life and soul of the party. I don’t really accept he’s not here anymore.’   

In a heartwarming tribute to the actor, she continued: ‘Dennis was, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the loveliest men I have ever known in my life. He was incredibly kind and incredibly generous. He was a gentleman through and through. And not just a wonderful friend, but also a fantastic colleague as well – to everybody.’

The TV star added that Dennis was ‘great to everyone’, remarking that he was a ‘team player’ and a ‘top bloke’. 

In the interview, Amanda looked back on the ‘close-knit’ friendship she shared with Dennis as well as their other co-stars James Bolam and Alun Armstrong, all of whom she worked with from 2003.  

The beauty starred alongside them and Waterman in the long-running BBC police drama as Sandra Pullman, detective superintendent to his hero Gerry Standing. 

She noted how they were all ‘so close’ and ‘never agued’, agreeing with each other about everything and ‘laughed everyday’.

Sharing more about their deep bond, she told how a day never went by without them ‘in stitches’, adding that it was ‘joyous’ and that the foursome were ‘kindred spirits.’ 

Friends: Amanda starred alongside Waterman in the long-running BBC police drama for 10 years, as Sandra Pullman to his hero Gerry Standing