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Aacclaimed actor Monica Dolan made a poignant statement about researching the plight of missing youth Who “didn’t even know about” while preparing to play a serial killer. rosemary west,
The BAFTA-winning star shared how she was affected by the revelations, which have caused “nightmares about young people’s faces”, as she became the latest star to support. Independent‘S secure call Campaign.
Together missing peopleA Donation Ms. Dolan has worked closely with this publication since playing West Raising money to launch an important new service For children in crisis,
he told Independent: “One of the things that really impressed me about that case was that some of those young people had been missing for 20 years or more – and no one was looking for them, no one even noticed they were gone. That affected me even more than the violence. I think that was something I learned through doing it.”
The 56-year-old has since urged the public to donate to the appeal as efforts to set up the free, around-the-clock service gain momentum, with more than £75,000 in donations received so far.
donate Here Or text SAFE to 70577 to give missing people £10 – enough to get one child support.
After starring in the 2011 ITV drama, Ms Dolan became an ambassador for Missing People, the UK’s only charity dedicated to reuniting missing people with their loved ones. appropriate adultwho played with dominic west her character’s husband Fred,
“Rosemary and Fred West targeted young people between the ages of 16 and 25. They may have done so partly deliberately,” he said.
“Certainly, what I learned from working with Missing People and doing that project is how sensitive a time it is between the ages of 16 and 25. Because you’re not a child anymore and people don’t see you as a child, but you can be very vulnerable to exploitation.”
Opening up about the effect the role had on her, she said: “It was very scary. I remember waking up one morning, having a nightmare about young people’s faces, because I was reading books that had pictures of them.”
Ms. Dolan won a Best Supporting Actress BAFTA for her performance and used her acceptance speech in 2012 to draw attention to the plight of West’s victims. One of Britain’s most notorious serial killer couples, the pair raped, tortured and murdered at least ten young women and girls at their home on Cromwell Street in Gloucester between 1973 and 1987. But many of his victims were not even reported missing at the time they disappeared. Ms Dolan said in her speech: “I would like to live in a world where everyone is remembered.”
he told Independent: “The scariest and scariest thing happens when people don’t know when [others] Are missing. It speaks deeply about how much we care about the people of our society and culture. I think there are a lot of invisible people out there.”
Ms Dolan visited missing persons offices shortly after that speech and was “amazed” by the diversity of work being done, from a team trying to trace a hand found at sea to others launching legal challenges. They also visited the confidential helpline room, but were not allowed inside and stressed that the charity provides vital support not only to missing people but also to their loved ones.
“The diversity and intensity of work at Missing People – don’t underestimate the value of where your money can go and what it can do,” Ms Dolan said.
“For the families of those who have gone missing, the support and care that Missing People can provide is so valuable. Just think about how you wake up every morning and ask yourself questions… I’ve heard stories where Missing People has really pushed them through… They’re very much in limbo, in a state of grief, and trying to find an end to the grief is difficult.”
Around 900 people are reported missing every day in the UK, of which around 600 are young people, and more than 430,000 people are affected by missing a child each year. According to the latest data from the National Crime Agency, 160,000 people were reported missing in nearly 330,000 incidents during 2023-2024. Of these, 72,000 were children, who disappeared in approximately 210,000 separate episodes.
Highlighting the pressures young people face and the lifeline that SafeCall can provide, Ms Dolan said: “A lot of people don’t have that, someone actually listening to them… My hope is that those young people will grow in confidence, hear what they need and be validated – and think, ‘Yes, I am valuable.'”
“If children and young people can access the right person, they have the opportunity to stay safe. It really is money well spent.”
Ms Dolan also stressed that other potential warning signs could be uncovered if the problem is dealt with appropriately.
“Looking at the people who go missing and why they go missing would reveal a lot,” he said. “We need to watch and take care.”
Please Donate Now The Independent and Missing People’s SafeCall campaign, which aims to raise £165,000 to create a free, nationwide service to help vulnerable children find safety and support.
If you or a loved one is missing, text or call the charity Missing People on 116000 for advice, support and options. It’s free, confidential and non-judgmental. or visit www.missingpeople.org.uk/get-help