Equity incorporated the Variety Artistes' Federation in 1967, and now represents most professionals whose work is presented on stage or screen.

As of 2021, it had just over 46,000 members, including actors, singers, dancers, variety artistes and other performers, models, theatre directors, choreographers, designers, and stage management.

[3] Equity was created in 1930 by a group of West End performers, including Godfrey Tearle, May Whitty and Ben Webster.

[6] In 1976, Equity introduced a policy of refusing to sell programmes to the SABC, an action that led to a virtual ban of British television in apartheid-era South Africa, which was not lifted until 1993.

In regard to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, Equity released a statement: 'Equity stands full square behind our sister union..'[8]