Annette Badland
Actor Annette Badland is Brooke’s Women’s Ambassador
Actor Annette Badland is Brooke’s Women’s Ambassador, highlighting the vital role women globally play in supporting their communities and the animals they depend on.
Known for a range of acclaimed acting roles, including Dr Who, Ted Lasso and Midsomer Murders, Annette has had a long and varied career across stage, screen, radio and television.
Annette trained in acting at the prestigious East 15 Acting School in Essex, before joining Sir Ian McKellen's Actors' Company at the Cambridge Arts Theatre and later the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Becoming Brooke’s new Women’s Ambassador means a great deal to me. I’ve always admired the charity’s work with working equines and the women who care for them every day.
Annette has supported Brooke for many years, as a compassionate supporter of working animals, whose lives are deeply intertwined with human communities.
She has supported Brooke at many events, including the annual Animals in War Memorial Service in London, and was the voice of Brooke’s short film “Brooke at 90” – which won an award at the 2025 Smiley Charity Film Awards.
Annette hopes “being involved in such a vital cause and shining light on these stories will help others to support women-led initiatives and policy around the world.”
These animals are the backbone of so many communities and the women who look after them deserve real support and recognition.
So, when communities locally lose their animals – be that through the donkey skin trade, climate disasters or conflicts - it can often be women who are hit the hardest.
Annette is calling for
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Recognition of the unpaid domestic work women do in the livestock sector
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More women’s economic opportunities such as loans and training in animal husbandry
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Promotion of women in livestock-related professions
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A ban to the donkey skin trade, which disproportionately affects women and girls.