Diane Morgan is best known for her deadpan portrayal of clueless yet effortlessly charming documentarian Philomena Cunk. “Early man domesticated dogs for companionship, and cats for… whatever we have cats for,” she says in the first episode of Cunk on Earth. In the third episode, she asks whether the Renaissance was more culturally significant than Beyoncé. You get the vibe.
But sometimes, Cunk lands on something meaningful—even if she delivers it in her signature quirky phrasing. In Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, where Cunk first appeared, she says: “Our planet is changing. And not in a good way, like into a butterfly, or a giant magic shoe.”
Animal Equality
Morgan agrees with the character she portrays. The situation is grim for animals and the planet right now. The actor’s solution? Turn your back on animal products. In 2025, the comedian and actor partnered with the Animal Law Foundation to raise awareness of industrial animal agriculture and misinformation in the food chain. In fact, Morgan has worked with several animal welfare nonprofits, including Animal Equality and local rescue centers.
In a recent interview with The Independent, the comedian advocated for a vegan diet, citing both health and skincare benefits, as well as her love for animals.
Why Diane Morgan (aka Philomena Cunk) is vegan now
“I just love animals, and I do a lot of work for animal charities, and consequently, you see videos of the way animals are treated,” she said. “A lot of factory farming is horrific, and I was already vegetarian, but when I saw all of that and how they’re treated, I just thought, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’”
This marks a shift from a 2021 interview with National Geographic, when Morgan said she would love to go vegan but couldn’t give up cheese. “Cheese is the one thing I couldn’t live without,” she said at the time.
Now? Her perspective has completely changed. Morgan says her former favorite food reminds her of socks. Yes, socks.
Diane Morgan
“I couldn’t find a decent vegan cheese that I liked—it all tasted like glue sticks—so I just went cold turkey on it,” she said. “Then, after four weeks, my brain just went, ‘Oh, I don’t like cheese anymore, it smells like socks.’ So now I don’t crave it at all.”
She might not be a fan of vegan cheese (and, honestly, we get it—it can take time—so if you’re struggling, check out our guide to dairy-free cheese), but Morgan does love plenty of plant-based foods. She’s a fan of oat milk, vegan chocolate, tofu, butter beans, and has even developed a new appreciation for vegetables.
“If you’re not eating meat or cheese, you’ve really got to make friends with the vegetable,” she said. “And I tell you what, my skin’s got much better since I went vegan. It’s definitely clearer,” she added.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
