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!''