Emma Thompson thinks ''sexism'' in the acting business is worse than ever.

The Oscar-winning actress has joined other female stars - including Maggie Gyllenhaal and Dame Helen Mirren - in criticising perceived sexism in the television and film industries, saying the world is in a ''worse state than I have known it, particularly for women''.

The 'Saving Mr. Banks' star said: ''I don't think there's any appreciable improvement and I think that, for women, the question of how they are supposed to look is worse than it was even when I was young.

''So, no, I am not impressed, at all. I think it's still completely s**t, actually.''

Emma, 56, revealed she used to think that gender-based prejudices were gradually eroding, but now thinks her optimism was misplaced.

She told Radio Times magazine: ''When I was younger I really did think we were on our way to a better world and when I look at it now, it is in a worse state than I have known it, particularly for women and I find that very disturbing and sad.

''So I get behind as many young female performers as I can and actually a lot of the conversations with them are about exactly the fact that we are facing and writing about the same things and nothing has changed, and that some forms of sexism and unpleasantness to women have become more entrenched and indeed more prevalent.''