Actress Refuses Promotion and Donates Salary
Actress Natalie Dormer has made a strong decision regarding her latest television project. Dormer stars as Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, in The Lady, a drama series produced by ITV and BritBox. However, she has now announced that she will not be promoting the show after controversial emails involving Ferguson and Jeffrey Epstein surfaced.
In a statement to Variety, Dormer explained that her values did not align with Ferguson’s past actions. She also revealed that she had donated her entire salary from the project to children’s charities.
“When I agreed to take the role in The Lady, I knew portraying Sarah Ferguson would require nuance,” Dormer said. “People are layered, and as an actor, my job is to show those complexities with honesty and empathy. Since completing the project, new information has come to light that makes it impossible for me to reconcile my values with Sarah Ferguson’s behavior, which I believe is inexcusable.”
Dormer confirmed that she donated her salary to the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) and the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, which Barnardo’s hosts. She stressed her commitment to the well-being of children and said this was the best way she could respond to the controversy.
The Ferguson Email That Sparked Outrage
The controversy began when an email from Sarah Ferguson to Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced. The email dates back to 2011, just three years after Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor.
In that email, Ferguson described Epstein as a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend.” Ferguson allegedly apologized to him for distancing herself in public. She said advisers told her not to contact him to protect her career and reputation. “I know you feel hellaciously let down by me,” she wrote, adding that advisers instructed her to avoid him if she wanted to keep working as a children’s author and philanthropist.
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The email was especially controversial because only a year earlier, Ferguson had publicly declared that she regretted her ties to Epstein and would never associate with him again. Speaking to the Evening Standard in 2010, she said she had “deep regret” over her friendship with Epstein.
A representative for Ferguson later explained the email. According to the BBC, her team said Epstein threatened to sue her for defamation, so she sent the email. The spokesperson said advisers told the duchess to write it to try to calm Epstein and his threats.
Charities Cut Ties With Ferguson
The backlash has been swift. Several charities announced they no longer wanted Sarah Ferguson as a patron after the email was revealed. Julia’s House, a children’s hospice organization, said in a statement that it was “inappropriate” for Ferguson to continue as a patron. The charity thanked her for past support but made it clear she could no longer hold the role.
Other organizations also took the same step. The Teenage Cancer Trust, Prevent Breast Cancer, and the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation all confirmed that Ferguson was no longer associated with them.
Duchess of York called Epstein a “supreme friend” in letters under media review
The Duchess of York, who divorced Prince Andrew in 1996, has long been connected to charitable work. However, the renewed focus on her ties with Epstein has caused major reputational damage.
Natalie Dormer’s decision to step back from promoting The Lady and to donate her salary has drawn wide attention. Her move shows how the resurfaced email continues to have far-reaching effects, not only for Ferguson but also for projects connected to her story.
