Juliet Stevenson: Actor, Activist, Ambassador

An award-winning screen and stage actor, Juliet Stevenson is perhaps best known for appearing in a host of successful films, including Truly Madly Deeply, Bend It Like Beckham and Emma. But Juliet is also a well-known activist and advocate for the refugee community, and Breaking Barriers is proud to have her enduring support as an ambassador.  

Juliet’s interest in supporting refugees was first kindled in 1991 while appearing in the world premiere of Ariel Dorfman’s play Death and the Maiden at the Royal Court Theatre in London.  

Juliet played Paulina, a political prisoner who is detained and tortured under General Pinochet’s regime in Chile. To research the role, Juliet spoke to refugees from Chile who had survived detention under the regime. This experience led her to become an ardent supporter of local and national organisations that advocate for the rights of refugees.  

Meeting Matt Powell 

Nearly 30 years on from Death and the Maiden, while involved in refugee projects in Calais, Juliet was contacted by Breaking Barriers’ founder. 

“Matt Powell reached out to me asking if I could talk to him because he had this idea. So, I met with him, and his idea made complete sense,” said Juliet. 

“To be offering a service to refugees who are on the other side of the asylum system, the fortunate ones who get their leave to remain, you are… really helping them to find and locate a new identity. They’ve lost everything. They’ve lost country, culture, language, home, family, community, friends, climate, geography. Everything that creates identity.  

“And work seems to be one of the strongest ways that you can remake an identity and find a way to connect with a new community, a new society, and find welcome… It seemed to me a very, very brilliant idea. And it proved to be, with the speed that Breaking Barriers has grown and has become as successful and as widespread across the UK as it has.” 

An interview with Juliet 

Over the years, Juliet has supported Breaking Barriers in many ways. From co-curating the Belonging photography exhibition in 2019, to setting up a fundraising challenge in 2020 to raise money for the organisation during the Covid 19 pandemic.  

Now, as Breaking Barriers marks its 10th anniversary, we are proud to announce that Juliet is backing our Breaking Barriers, Building Futures campaign. As part of the campaign, Juliet spoke to the team about her support for Breaking Barriers, and the impact that the refugee community has had on her life and perspective. Watch the interview now: