Downton Abbey Actor Says Gay Role Hurt His Career — But Is He Right?

Robert James-Collier is known internationally for his role as Thomas Barrow, the devious gay underbutler who brought intrigue to the halls of Downton Abbey.

In the period drama, Barrow hid his sexual orientation for fear it would hurt his career. And the straight actor who portrays him, James-Collier, believes this character's identity may have had consequences in the modern-day real world as well.

James-Collier, in an interview with Radio Times, said his renown for playing a gay role hindered his chances in Hollywood. He contrasted his career with Downton costars who played straight roles on the popular British period series. Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary), Lily James (Lady Rose) and Dan Stevens (Matthew Crawley) were "more easily transferable" to mainstream American markets, he claimed.

"I think audiences in the U.S. can identify quite easily with the quintessential English gent and English lady, whereas a neurotic, dark, gay character like Thomas is a hard thing to put into the American market. It can lead to typecasting," said James-Collier, who is straight.

"Because Thomas Barrow is gay and is, essentially, the bad guy for much of the show, a lot of people within the industry can only see you as that. They might not be in a rush to see you as a heterosexual love interest. That takes time," he said.

After Downton Abbey ended its run in 2015, James-Collier said his opportunities in television and film were slim. He received offers for gay roles in the theater world, which he refused because he "really wanted to show something different." He is now set to appear in the upcoming horror movie The Ritual, one of his first major parts since Downton.

If James-Collier did encounter hurdles in Hollywood for playing a gay role, his experience would be an exception -- at least in modern times. There are straight actors who have turned down gay roles for various reasons, including a fear it would limit future opportunities. Mark Wahlberg refused a lead part in Brokeback Mountain because he was "creeped out" by the script. Will Smith said he limited the physicality of his gay role in Six Degrees of Separation, on a warning from Denzel Washington, who said, "You can act all you want, but don't do any physical scenes. ... Don't be kissing no man."

But overall, Hollywood is full of straight actors who have won acclaim, awards, and a fruitful career after playing gay roles. (Here's a list of 50 actors who were nominated for Oscars for playing LGBT roles, including Tom Hanks, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Sean Penn.)

And Thomas -- a closeted character who is both scheming and sympathetic in his desite for a better life -- was one of the best and most complex roles on Downton Abbey. In the interview for his 2013 Out magazine cover story, James-Collier said as much, recalling his excitement and gratitude for landing the part.

"My agent said, 'Listen, you've got the part that everyone in town wants -- he's a villain, he's a great role, the only bad thing is that he dies at the end of the first series,'" said James-Collier.

"I gave it 110 percent, and after the first couple of episodes, Liz [Trubridge], the producer, came to me and said, 'We want you to stay on. Will you?' And I was, like, 'Fuck, yeah.'"