'Posh Boys' Playing Gangsters: Eddie Marsan on Class and Casting in TV and Film
Eddie Marsan, a celebrated British character actor known for roles in the Sherlock Holmes films, Mission: Impossible III, Ray Donovan, and Supacell, highlights the class barriers in acting.
Challenges for Disadvantaged Actors
Marsan points out the difficulty for actors from disadvantaged backgrounds to break into the industry without exceptional talent or support. He states:
“If you want to be an actor in this country, and you come from a disadvantaged background, you have to be exceptional to have a hope of a career.”
By contrast, he argues, those from privileged families can afford to be less skilled and still succeed:
“If you come from a privileged background, you can be mediocre.”
Industry's Class Bias
Marsan observes that many of his fellow actors do not share his working-class roots, suggesting a strong upper-class presence in casting. He believes financial backing from family often determines who can sustain an acting career.
Support for Young Actors
Newly appointed vice president of drama school Mountview, Marsan reflects on his own journey, emphasizing the importance of supporting emerging talent without financial privilege:
“I came here when I was in my 20s… I was a bit lost, to be honest… I was serving an apprenticeship as a printer when Mountview offered me a place.”
Marsan criticizes figures like Laurence Fox who resist calls for greater on-screen diversity, fearing it will “level the playing field.”
Summary
Eddie Marsan calls for greater support for talented actors from less privileged backgrounds to overcome entrenched class barriers in the UK film and TV industry.