Actress and comedian Dawn French has publicly supported the legalisation of assisted dying in the United Kingdom, describing the issue as “a no-brainer” provided that strict safeguards and proper consent procedures are in place.

In an interview with Good Housekeeping magazine, the 68-year-old Vicar of Dibley star said she believes it is “merciless” that assisted dying has not yet been approved in Britain.

French joins a growing number of high-profile public figures, including Dame Esther Rantzen and Dame Prue Leith, who have advocated for changes to end-of-life legislation.The article also references the ongoing political debate surrounding the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

The proposed legislation previously gained support in the House of Commons and later passed with a narrow majority, but it ultimately stalled in the House of Lords and failed to become law.

During the interview, French reflected on ageing and vulnerability, admitting she feels troubled by the state of the world and anxious about losing independence as she grows older.She spoke candidly about concerns linked to old age, health, and personal autonomy.The piece additionally revisits comments French made about the suicide of her father, Denys Vernon French, who died in 1977 when she was 45.

French explained how she experienced anger, confusion and grief in her youth, but over time came to better understand mental illness and the importance of discussing suicide openly.

She emphasised that shame and silence surrounding mental health should be challenged and encouraged greater public conversation about suicide and emotional suffering.