Emma Thompson Backs Russell Brand 'Don't Vote'

Emma Thompson has urged the public to follow Russell Brand's 'don't vote' campaign.

The 'Effie Gray' actress has spoken out in favour of the comedian's controversial campaign - which encouraged people to rethink their political stance by not voting in elections - and has even likened modern society to the totalitarian state featured in George Orwell's novel, '1984'.

In an interview with The Times newspaper, Emma said: ''I am encouraged by people like Russell Brand saying, 'Don't vote'. I've now got to the point where I listen to reports about what's happening on the FTSE or the Dow Jones [stock exchange] and I think I'm in an Orwell [novel].''

The 55-year-old actress - who visited the Arctic with the environmental organisation Greenpeace earlier this year - also advised people to do ''whatever it takes'' to prevent further damage to the environment.

She told the newspaper: ''I'm afraid I have just got to the stage where I can't stand it any more, what is being done in this world. I can't stand it, I can't bear the fact that they are going to drill for oil. They're not drilling for f***ing oil in the Arctic! The Arctic belongs to us, all of us, they can't be allowed to do that, so whatever it takes ... non-violent direct action, civil disobedience, you have to do it!''