Damian Lewis: I'm an Eton educated actor – but I'm still always in a minority

Damian Lewis believes that being educated at Eton has put him in the “minority” as an actor.

The Homeland star, who studied at the prestigious boarding school, dismissed claims that privately educated actors dominate the industry.

Asked in a Guardian live Q&A about whether a lack of funding for the arts was leading to less diversity among British actors, he replied: “We have to protect against lack of diversity. If theatre, film, TV, dance, opera, ballet are going to remain true artforms, they must be reflective of all society.

“But that's a different point from saying that only privately educated actors are becoming dominant in acting, because statistically that's not true.

“A handful of actors from privileged backgrounds have done well, very well, and of course that's high profile news. But whenever I work, wherever I work, as an actor educated at Eton, I'm still always in a minority.”

Lewis, 46, claimed the industry is full of “likeminded people” from all sorts of backgrounds who all have “similar [stories] about being in a minority”.

He continued: “But it goes without saying, I hope, that theatre and the arts generally in my view are a fundamental and important part of any child's education, and to see any more cuts would be sad.”

Lewis’ fellow thespians Benedict Cumberbatch and James Norton have also previously spoken out on “posh-bashing”.

Norton deemed claims that all British actors are posh as “ridiculous”, while Sherlock star Cumberbatch said the constant focus on his upbringing and education has made him “want to go to America”.

Pointless host Alexander Armstrong also hit out at the stigma and described posh-bashing as a form of social injustice.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph in 2013 he said: “Why should your background be held against you? It is so short sighted. There are plenty of reasons for disliking people, but this tribal aversion to anyone with a posh voice is very boring.”