Just 2% of actors make a living from the profession and 90% are out of work at any one time. But the issues run much deeper than employment opportunities. People experience complex barriers to securing the career they have worked hard for and love. This is especially true for women over 40 and drama graduates who endure prejudice and can become marginalised, in-turn negatively impacting their mental health and resilience. The very industry into which they have invested their lives is failing them. If we lose these talented individuals, the quality of public work across the board may suffer.