Lydia West expressed a vow to tell more stories of ‘marginalised communities’ as she accepted her Rising Star trophy at Glamour’s Women Of The Year Awards.
The actress, 27, was named as the recipient of the Gamechanger Rising Star Award on Thursday, following her acclaimed turn as Jill Baxter in Channel 4 series It’s A Sin.
And after appearing in the series, which follows a group of friends whose lives change amid the 1980s AIDS crisis, Lydia wants more communities who otherwise wouldn’t have received mainstream coverage to get their moment in the spotlight.
Voice: Lydia West expressed a vow to tell more stories of ‘marginalised communities’ as she accepted her Game Changer trophy at Glamour’s Women Of The Year Awards on Thursday
On finding her own voice, she told Glamour: ‘I try to speak as honestly as I can, I plan to continue to have those conversations and to have difficult conversations because I believe the fight for equality and racism and transphobia and xenophobia and homophobia and sexism is still very much present and it still exists.
‘So, just knowing that I will always have an opinion on that and I am very comfortable to discuss it and to be asked about it and to petition about it on a social scale, that’s how I plan to use it.’
She continued: ‘Hopefully through future roles too, I would love to continue to tell stories that include marginalised communities and complex characters; stories that include deep representation of society as we know it now.
‘So if I’m given more opportunities to do these kind of jobs, to tell these kind of stories, that have been shut down for so many years for so many people.’
Acclaimed: The actress, 27, was named as the recipient of the Gamechanger Rising Star Award on Thursday, following her acclaimed turn as Jill Baxter in Channel 4 series It’s A Sin
The north London-born beauty went on to speak about the rise of the #MeToo movement, and how it empowered so many to speak up about past traumas.
She said: ‘The industry has seen a lot of positive change in the last few years, people speaking out, less shaming, more open and honest conversations…
‘We are collectively understanding that it is not about these perpetrators owning up to their wrong doings but an active movement of simply doing better and stopping victim shaming.
‘I will not engage in sexism and will speak up if I ever felt discriminated against, and I would actively advise and speak up if I saw it occurring in my presence.’
Character: Lydia is pictured in character as Jill Baxter with her It’s A Sin co-star Olly Alexander
With her character in It’s A Sin being a friend of the men who were experiencing judgement and discrimination at the time, she also broached the subject of allyship.
Defining it, she said: ‘Showing up, speaking up for what’s right, putting kindness, love and compassion first.
‘Being a good listener and using your privilege and voice to benefit people who do not have such privilege. Allies are the main source of change, so we need to be that change.’
As for her hopes for the next 20 years: ‘That we continue to smash it, on the big and small screens, on stage, online, on the radio etc.
Friends: Lydia’s Jill and her friends Ritchie (Olly Alexander, centre), Roscoe (Omari Douglas, left), Colin (Callum Scott Howells, second right) and Ash (Nathaniel Curtis, second left)
‘I long for inclusivity on all mediums and to see society accurately depicted in storytelling.
‘Representation is the key for young people to see growing up and it’s vital in everyone’s formative years to be able to connect to characters and feel included, heard and seen. That is my job as an actor.’
Stars such as Victoria Beckham, Little Mix and Frankie Bridge were selebrated at Thursday’s star-studded Glamour Women Of The Year Awards.
Also joining the line-up of worthy winners was Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown for her beauty range.
Hope: Lydia said, Hopefully through future roles, I would love to continue to tell stories that include marginalised communities’
The ceremony, hosted by comedian Katherine Ryan, was filmed in London and saw winners accepting their prizes virtually amid the COVID pandemic.
Other winners included Amika George for her gamechanging activism, author Bernardine Evaristo and model Ellie Goldstein who has Down’s Syndrome.
Footballer Marcus Rashford, 23, was also honoured for his work during the pandemic to hold the government to account over children’s’ school meals.
The 2021 Gamechangers awards will honour women who have broken down barriers, incited change and campaigned for justice throughout their careers.
Several of the year’s worthy winners have already been revealed ahead of the virtual ceremony on Thursday night, with Awkwafina scooping the Gamechainging creator award and Naomi Osaka the gong for sports Gamechanger.
The full GLAMOUR Women of the Year Awards 2021: The Gamechangers ceremony is available to watch on glamourmagazine.co.uk.