We have too many posh actors - says Downton creator: Lord Fellowes calls for more working-class youngsters to get drama training

  • Critics recently pointed to privileged backgrounds of Britain's current stars
  • Fellowes called for grants to help those who can't afford acting school fees
  • It is claimed working class children are being squeezed out of profession

By Chris Hastings for The Mail on Sunday

Published: 19:06 EST, 5 March 2016 | Updated: 07:53 EST, 6 March 2016

As the creator of Downton Abbey, he is synonymous with the aristocracy. But even Julian Fellowes has now added his voice to concerns the acting profession is dominated by former public school pupils.

Fellowes, who went to top Catholic independent school Ampleforth, told The Mail on Sunday: 'I think this is a bit of a problem and it does bother me,' and called for grants to help those who can't afford the fees for acting schools.

His comments come after critics pointed to the privileged backgrounds of Britain's current crop of stars. Old Etonians Damian Lewis, Dominic West and Eddie Redmayne, along with Old Harrovian Benedict Cumberbatch have found fame on both sides of the Atlantic. 

Julian Fellowes, who went to top Catholic independent school Ampleforth, called for grants to help those who can't afford the fees for acting schools

Julian Fellowes, who went to top Catholic independent school Ampleforth, called for grants to help those who can't afford the fees for acting schools

The current BBC hit The Night Manager stars two more Old Etonians - Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie. Alice Eve, who was in Star Trek: Into Darkness, went to top public schools Bedales and Westminster.

It is claimed that working class children are being squeezed out of the profession because they cannot afford drama training and that there is no one to compare with 1960s stars Michael Caine and Sean Connery, who were both born into poverty.

Fellowes said: 'I believe that it's important we find a way to give more access to working class aspirant actors to proper training.'

Class act: Alice Eve, who was in Star Trek: Into Darkness, went to top public schools Bedales and Westminster

Class act: Alice Eve, who was in Star Trek: Into Darkness, went to top public schools Bedales and Westminster

The Tory peer, whose adaptation of Anthony Trollope's Doctor Thorne begins tonight on ITV, admits he is not 'mad about student loans' and calls for a system to guarantee everyone has funding. 'In the old days you had a right to three years' further education. There was a means test and people who had the money had to pay and those who didn't have the money didn't have to pay.

'Everybody got three years if they wanted it. You could use that for dance training, for acting, for painting,' he said.

Labour-supporting actress Julie Walters, recently said: 'The way things are now, there aren't going to be any working class actors. Almost all the up-and-coming names are from the posh schools.'

Labour-supporting actress Julie Walters said that the way things are now there aren't going to be any working class actors

Labour-supporting actress Julie Walters said that the way things are now there aren't going to be any working class actors

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