Emma Thompson, who has been starring in films for years - Love Actually, Nanny McPhee, the Harry Potter Films, and so many others - spends her time doing more than just acting. She has also spent time raising awareness about AIDS and HIV in Africa (like Jamie Lee Curtis and Ben Affleck), raising money for Breast Cancer (like Mandy Moore), and now, she’s doing what she can to raise awareness about the sex industry.

Emma Thompson calls herself a part-time activist, splitting most of her time between her acting career and her family. Even so, she is out to make a difference in the world. Emma portrays the sex industry through an installation called “Journey” is the writer and star actress playing the part of Elena, a young woman, who was sold as a sex slave for $1,000 and then forced to “pleasure” 20 to 30 clients every day.

The set-up is cheap and tacky, as it’s supposed to be, and in London, it was performed in front of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. Journey is expected to go on tour to Glasgow, Liverpool, and eventually to Easter Europe. Journey, in addition to highlighting one woman’s plight, also shows Helen Bamber’s foundation, which provides ways for women to overcome the trauma and abuse they have faced.

The goal of the organization is to offer awareness and education of the situation, and also to offer support to women - and men - who have been tortured and abused.  On their web page, under the “delivering support” section, it explains, “We have developed ways of working holistically with survivors of torture in a safe and supportive environment that has proved critical to their recovery.”

Much like Colin Firth, Emma Thompson has made it a point to use her celeb status to get things done, and to promote worthwhile causes.

For more information about the Helen Bamber Foundation, or to learn what you can do to raise awareness, visit the website at: www.helenbamber.org.

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