'Posh boys' Playing Gangsters: Eddie Marsan on Class and Casting in TV and Film
Actor Eddie Marsan reflects on the challenges faced by those from less privileged backgrounds in the acting profession. He states that to succeed as an actor in this country, individuals from disadvantaged origins 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 discusses the concern among some, like Laurence Fox, who fear that increased representation of different social classes on screen could “level the playing field.”
Marsan argues people like Laurence Fox fear greater representation on screen will "level the playing field."
The issue highlights the industry's obsession with casting upper-class actors in roles traditionally associated with gangsters or other working-class characters.
Summary: Eddie Marsan emphasizes the high bar set for disadvantaged actors, critiquing the industry's bias for upper-class casting and resistance to broader representation.