Maureen Beattie becomes new Equity president

Actors' union Equity has announced that Maureen Beattie will become its new president, replacing Malcolm Sinclair in July.

Beattie – whose credits include The Ferryman, Yerma and Neaptide – becomes the union's second female president and the first since Beatrix Lehmann in 1946.

Last year, as Equity's vice president, Beattie formed a group to combat sexual harassment in the industry and to provide greater support to its members in cases of sexual harassment.

On her appointment, she said: "I am incredibly proud to have the opportunity to be President of this union and to represent our membership in all its diverse glory.

"Together we can create an industry which is 100 per cent inclusive, an industry where no matter your individual characteristics or your caring responsibilities you have as good a chance of landing that job – whatever it may be – as anyone else."

Outgoing president Sinclair added: "Maureen is a fantastic campaigner and a passionate advocate for those of us working in the entertainment industry. It is such an insecure profession and there are so many challenges facing our members in making a career, Maureen understands this and I am convinced she will make Equity an even stronger union. I look forward to supporting her from the wings."