meet the squad
Keana-Marie Senior
I remember walking into my first industry event and seeing one other person who looked like me. I felt shocked and marginalised. It’s important that I feel part of an industry that recognises the true meaning of the word inclusion and in order to achieve that, I’m getting used to uncomfortable conversations, silences and consequential actions that are needed in order to move our industry towards a place to be proud of.
- Keana-Marie Senior
(Agent, Victoria Lepper Associates)
Sharon Henry
For over 30 years, I had floated by on the ‘isn’t it lovely, I’m in entertainment, everything’s lovely and we all get along’. The only problem is, I was kidding myself and shoving down some unpalatable truths that I really didn’t want to face.
What we want to see now is real change, we are not fighting for the broad concept of “diversity” or any broad abstract principle which can all too easily be diverted and hijacked. Real change comes about by fighting for specific people and focusing on specific goals.
Offering a solution rather than simply reiterating the problem is the only way forward. Which is why we formed a sub group within the PMA to try to dismantle this centuries old problem to start to be the change we want to see.
- Sharon Henry
(Agent, Sharon Henry Management)
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Julianna Bautista
Constantly being the only one in the room who looks like you is tiring and discouraging. And frankly, there's no excuse for it anymore. Regardless of what job title you hold in this field, representation matters. From behind and in front of the camera, from the writer's room to the casting room, from who is training you to who is representing you.
This industry needs to know there are people fighting to better it and as agents, who better to start the fight for than for the actors we fight for every day.
- Julianna Bautista
(Agent, Identity Agency Group)
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Ikki El-Amriti
For the past 10 years, I have been fighting for, and supporting, our Global Majority clients at IAG, and our students at The Identity School of Acting, for their rightful place on stage and screen. I don’t consider myself a “minority," nor do I consider anyone else in that regard. But we have been treated as such, with our perspectives and our lives minimised, othered, and reduced to derivative storytelling.
I say, no more. Let’s show all of our messy, complicated selves in the culture we consume, so that we can all be educated and entertained in equal measure. Our lives have value outside of the colour of our skin or the accent we speak in, and I am determined as part of this team, and in the work that I do, to push forward lasting change within our industry.
- Ikki El-Amriti
(Agent, Identity Agency Group)
Mildred Yuan
I joined The Diverse Squad because it’s time for me to step up and make a difference. I need to speak out, work towards equality for all and pave the way for others to come after me. I need to do what every good agent does – show up. Show up when it gets difficult and complicated and everyone’s afraid to say the wrong thing. Show up and make my voice heard and help others to do the same.
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- Mildred Yuan
(Agent, United Agents LLP)
Dawn Green
After 25 years, I am still aware that that there aren't many Agents who look like me and I am often in industry spaces and the only Black person present. Representation, inclusion and equality is vital in our industry and the time is now - we all need to step up! As part of the Diversity Group, we will have those needed conversations to challenge the status quo and help bring about change.
- Dawn Green
(Agent, CAM)
Sara Sedhev
You just need to consider the huge furore over lack of representation in recent artistic award ceremonies to appreciate that our industry is critically lacking in diverse voices, both on and off screen. As a person of Indian descent myself, I have had my own struggles in the industry to achieve equity with my white colleagues. Things are finally starting to evolve, but too slowly - it’s important we keep up the momentum to make real and fundamental change.
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- Sara Sehdev
(Agent, Core MGMT)