Edinburgh actress fumes 'I have three kids and a mortgage' as she makes plea online

A leading Edinburgh-based actress has hit out at Scottish film students approaching professionals to work for free in their short film projects.

Shauna Macdonald, who is best known for her role as Sarah Carter in horror film The Descent (2005) took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express her frustration at being asked to 'work for free.'

She urged students and their lecturers to consider that professional actors also have families to support as well as mortgages to pay, so they are often not in a position to be able to take time out of work to support projects for free.

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She posted on X: "I will not work for free. Students... please don't ask me to be in your short film.

"I have three kids and a mortgage. I can't AFFORD to take time out of teaching to support your work.

"Lecturers... don't ask your students to ask actors to work for free."

As well as appearing in the Descent, Shauna has also had roles in both TV and film, including The Debt Collector, Outlander, Spooks, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Filth.

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Her performance as Dr. Elle Chrysley in White Chamber led to her winning the Scottish BAFTA Award for Best Actress.

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Shauna also runs acting and public speaking classes alongside her on-screen career.