Anna Maxwell Martin shines spotlight on child poverty in ‘Santaland’
Award-winning actress and Action for Children ambassador, Anna Maxwell Martin, shines a spotlight on child poverty in our new Christmas appeal film.
You could help vulnerable children
With Christmas around the corner, we’re excited to share our short festive film, 'Santaland', featuring our newly announced celebrity ambassador, Anna Maxwell Martin.
Best known for her roles in Motherland (the film's title inspiration), Line of Duty and Ludwig, Anna is also a passionate advocate for children and young people, often campaigning for better outcomes and change.
In the film, Anna plays a busy Christmas elf working at Santa's grotto. At the end of her shift, she's approached by a curious little girl named Lily.
Lily tells the Christmas elf that she has some important questions for Santa - like does he go on holiday? Does he like toast?
What begins as a heart-warming exchange of questions turns into a devastating blow when the elf begins to understand the reality of Lily's situation.
Mum said Santa might not come this year and I really wanted a present.
Lily admits that her family doesn't have much. She's afraid that Santa will forget her. With hopeful eyes, all she wants is reassurance that Santa will visit this Christmas.
With 4.5 children living in poverty across the UK, our new film is a powerful reminder that for many children like Lily, Christmas is just another day.
They wake up disappointed to find that Santa hasn't come. And there's no presents beneath the tree.
I wanted to collaborate with Action for Children on this special film to shout about the shocking levels of poverty across the UK which are shattering childhoods.
Anna Maxwell Martin
At Action for Children, we have over 2,500 frontline workers supporting children every day.
We’ve seen children without a bed sleeping on the floor with just blankets. Families phoning us crying because they have no money to feed their children. And it doesn’t stop because it’s Christmas.
But you could help change that.
By becoming a Secret Santa and making a donation, you could help bring happiness to vulnerable children this Christmas.
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