"Posh boys" Playing Gangsters: Eddie Marsan on TV and Film Industry's Obsession with Upper-Class Roles
Eddie Marsan highlights a challenge for actors from disadvantaged backgrounds in the UK entertainment industry. He explains that to succeed, these actors must be truly exceptional.
“If you want to be an actor in this country, and you come from a disadvantaged background, you have to be exceptional,” says Marsan.
Marsan also criticizes figures like Laurence Fox, suggesting they fear that increasing representation on screen will “level the playing field.”
He argues people like Laurence Fox fear greater representation on screen will “level the playing field.”
These comments reflect ongoing debates about class and access in the performing arts, especially regarding the portrayal of gangsters and criminals by actors from privileged backgrounds.
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Author's Summary
Eddie Marsan critiques the industry's preference for upper-class actors in gangster roles and highlights the barriers faced by talented actors from disadvantaged backgrounds.