Nicola Coughlan among 400 signatories to open letter condemning UK Supreme Court definition of "woman"

Galway-born actor Nicola Coughlan, known for her work on Derry Girls and Bridgerton, is among 400 TV and film professionals to sign to an open letter calling for industry action on trans rights.

The letter expresses solidarity with the trans, non-binary and intersex communities following a recent ruling by the UK Supreme Court which defines "women" exclusively on a biological basis.

It calls for indsutry bodies and institutions to commit to the protection of trans people both in their organisations and the wider industry.

Organisations named in the letter include Bectu, BAFTA, BFI, Directors UK, Picturehouse, BBC, Writers Guild and Channel 4.

"We the undersigned film and television professionals stand in solidarity with the trans, non-binary and intersex communities who have been impacted by the Supreme Court rulin April 17," the letter read. "We wish to add our voices to the 2000+ signatories of the Open Letter from UK Writers to the Trans Community published last week and call upon members of our industry and cultural bodies to join us."

"The Supreme Court's ruling that, under the Equality Act, 'woman' is defined by biological sex, states that 'the concept of sex is binary, a person is either a woman or a man'," the letter continues. "We believe the ruling undermines the lived reality and threatens the safety of trans, non-binary and intersex people living in the UK."

Started by producer Sid Strickland and script editor Jack Casey, the 400 plus signatures also include The Last Of Us' Bella Ramsey, The Day of the Jackal's Eddie Redmayne, Adolescence's Faye Marsay and How To Have Sex filmmaker Molly Manning Walker.

View the full letter and list of signatories here.