James Dreyfus is a British actor and anti-transgender activist. Dreyfus is affiliated with anti-trans group LGB Alliance and has spoken at their events.
Dreyfus has written for the anti-trans publication The Critic, Lesbian and Gey News, and Spiked. Dreyfus has appeared on a number of anti-trans programs, including The Mess We’re In with Graham Linehan, GB News with Andrew Doyle, The Brendan O’Neill Show with Brendan O’Neill, and heretics with Andrew Gold,
Background
James Louis de Zogheb Dreyfus was born on October 9, 1968 in Islington, London. Dreyfus attended Harrow School, then trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After receiving acclaim for roles on the stage, Dreyfus moved into television and film. Dreyfus is best known for roles in The Thin Blue Line and Gimme Gimme Gimme.
Anti-trans activism
After Dreyfus signed a 2018 open letter in The Times criticizing UK charity Stonewall’s support for trans inclusion, Dreyfus faced public pushback that led to reduced involvement in Doctor Who.
Dreyfus signed a 2020 Sunday Times open letter supporting anti-trans extremist J.K. Rowling.
Dreyfus signed the 2024 UK Public Inquiry request demanding a public inquiry into transgender healthcare.
References
McLaughlin, Rosanna (April 16, 2025). A dispatch from TERF Island: A day at the annual LGB Alliance Conference in London uncovers a subculture fuelled by loneliness and conspiracy, and a roaring trade in transphobic handicrafts. TANKtv https://tank.tv/magazine/issue-102/features/a-dispatch-from-terf-island
Bembridge, James (May 19, 2021). The James Dreyfus Interview. Country Squire Magazine https://countrysquire.co.uk/2021/05/19/the-james-dreyfus-interview/
Milton, Josh (January 28 2021). Actor James Dreyfus whines his predictive text keeps suggesting ‘womxn’. It backfires spectacularly. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2021/01/28/james-dreyfus-womxn-predicted-text-trans-rights-iphone-twitter/
Milton, Josh (December 10, 2020). Gay actor James Dreyfus tries to lecture Labour MP Stella Creasy on misogyny. It backfires spectacularly. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2020/12/10/james-dreyfus-stella-creasy-womens-rights-misogyny-trans-twitter-labour-backlash/
Tabberer, Jamie (September 29, 2020). Gimme Gimme Gimme star James Dreyfus among signees of open letter supporting JK Rowling. Attitude https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/gimme-gimme-gimme-star-james-dreyfus-among-signees-of-open-letter-supporting-jk-rowling-301722/
Duffy, Nick (September 28, 2020). Pointless host Alexander Armstrong and Death in Paradise star Ben Miller ‘stand in solidarity’ with JK Rowling. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2020/09/28/jk-rowling-solidarity-open-letter-alexander-armstrong-ben-miller-graham-linehan/
O’Connor, Roisin (September 28, 2020). JK Rowling: Ian McEwan and Graham Linehan among literary figures to support author amid transphobia row. The Independent https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/books/jk-rowling-transgender-views-support-ian-mcewan-sunday-times-b666932.html
Duffy, Nick (October 4, 2018). Singer Alison Moyet joins anti-trans activists in letter attacking LGBT charity Stonewall. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2018/10/04/alison-moyet-anti-trans-letter-stonewall/
Anti-trans coverage
Davies, Alex (June 12, 2024 ). Game of Thrones star James Dreyfus ‘brags’ about HOTD role amid cancel calls for JK Rowling trans row backing. GB News https://www.gbnews.com/celebrity/game-of-thrones-james-dreyfus-jk-rowling-trans-cancel-culture-hotd
Moloney, Charlie (April 4, 2022). Twitter allows Faye Fadem trans attack on JK Rowling. The Times https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/twitter-allows-faye-fadem-trans-attack-on-jk-rowling-jbn7bkr02
Ridler, Faith (February 12, 2021). Actor James Dreyfus slam trans activists as ‘misogynistic guys in skirts’ for waging war of hatred on JK Rowling and sending death and rape threats to women as part of campaign to ‘put them back in their place.’ Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9254979/Actor-James-Dreyfus-slam-trans-activists-misogynistic-guys-skirts.html
Linehan, Graham (Sep 15, 2020). The Dreyfus Affair. One from the archives: The shabby treatment of a gay actor. The Glinner Update https://grahamlinehan.substack.com/p/the-dreyfus-affair
Selected writing by Dreyfus
Dreyfus, James (November 24, 2024). Bluesky thinking? The honeymoon phase of the X alternative could be short-lived. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/bluesky-thinking/
Jonathan Best, Julie Bindel, Maureen Chadwick, Beatrix Campbell, James Dreyfus, Kate Harris, Philip Hensher, Kathleen Stock, Caroline Spry, Miranda Yardley, Alison Moyet, Paul Burston, Kristina Harrison, Darren Johnson, Eileen Gallagher, Claire Graham, Jane Harris (October 4, 2018). Letter: Stonewall Criticised. The Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/second-referendum-and-the-brexit-deadlock-qzr5qllkh
Media
Women’s Rights Network with Heather Binning and James Dreyfus (Oct 25, 2025). In conversation with James Dreyfus.
GBNews with Andrew Doyle, James Dreyfus, and Rosie Kay (October 16, 2022). Andrew Doyle speaks to choreographer Rosie Kay and actor James Dreyfus at Battle of Ideas festival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfODwZN7R98
- [clip] Rosie Kay on having to resign from her own dance company due to her views on transgender identity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z_iptxfFLk
Spectator TV with Winston Marshall and James Dreyfus (October 10, 2022). James Dreyfus: cancelled from Dr Who for supporting JK Rowling | SpectatorTV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCzAEVzDAW8
The Mess We’re In with Graham Linehan, “Arty Morty,” Helen Staniland, and James Dreyfus (February 10, 2021). 34: James Dreyfus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs5vfmNAWzU
Resources
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
The Critic (thecritic.co.uk)
- James Dreyfus
- thecritic.co.uk/author/james-dreyfus
X/Twitter (x.com)