Joanna Page has revealed that in her twenties, she was the target of unwanted sexual attention and harassment from predatory directors and colleagues.
The actress, 48, spent a decade on the stage for the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company before landing a part in Love Actually at the age of 23.
The 2003 Christmas movie, directed by Richard Curtis, was her breakout role and her character Judy (a shy body double) was required to perform sex scenes with fellow actor John (Martin Freeman).
The nudity could have been problematic for the star, but Joanna said she never once felt exploited, telling OK! Magazine: ‘It was a lovely experience. There was so much preparation with Richard and Martin beforehand.’
However, as a pretty young actress in her 20s, she would often have to ‘call out’ directors and colleagues who harassed her.
She told the publication: ‘I would call them out, being forthright has probably got me out of some scrapes because there were no intimacy co-ordinators when I came out of drama school. You read the sex scene and just had to get on with it.’
Joanna Page has revealed that in her twenties, she was the target of unwanted sexual attention and harassment from predatory directors and colleagues (pictured 2001)
The actress, 48, spent a decade on the stage for the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company before landing a part in Love Actually at the age of 23 (pictured with Martin Freeman in the movie)
Joanna, who was born in Swansea, Wales, graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1998.
Following her graduation, she spent ten years in stage-based roles, mainly costume dramas, which led to appearances in film productions, including From Hell, Mine All Mine, Love Actually, and Miss Julie.
However, she rose to true stardom once she took a lead role in the hit BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey, playing Stacey Shipman.
She appeared in the show’s three series between 2007 and 2010 before returning for a Christmas special in 2019.
In May 2024, it was announced that the final episode of the show, which was set to be broadcast on Christmas Day, had been written, much to fans’ delight.
Aside from Gavin and Stacey, Joanna also had a leading role in BBC drama The Cazalets, which follows a family during World War II.
The star also provided the voice-overs for a series of Kingsmill bread TV and radio advertisements, as well as a Christmas TV advertising campaign for the Carphone Warehouse.
In 2010, she went on to host the documentary My Pet Shame, and in October of that same year, became the face of Superdrug.
The 2003 Christmas movie, directed by Richard Curtis, was her breakout role, and her character Judy (a shy body double) was required to perform sex scenes with fellow actor John (Martin Freeman)
The nudity could have been problematic for the star, but Joanna said she never once felt exploited, telling OK! Magazine: ‘It was a lovely experience. There was so much preparation with Richard and Martin beforehand’ (pictured 2020)
However, as a pretty young actress in her 20s, she would often have to ‘call out’ directors and colleagues who harassed her (pictured 2005)
In 2011 and 2012, her acting career really took off as she played Leanne Powell in the BBC One drama series The Syndicate, Helen Pearson in the Sky Living comedy Gates, and Mrs Peterson in Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger.
During November 2013, Joanna also got a cameo in Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary episode, starring as Queen Elizabeth.
However, seven years later, the Welsh actress turned her hand to presenting on BBC One’s consumer series Shop Well For Less.
After that, she went on to co-host The Pet Show on ITV with Dermot O’Leary, became a regular panellist on the talk show Loose Women in 2023, and filmed the BBC television feature Men Up.
The drama follows five ordinary Welshmen who embark on one of the world’s first medical trials for the drug that would become Viagra.
In the process, the trial takes them to some very unexpected places and forces them to reassess their lives.
