Ben Daniels has insisted a "queer person will never be cast as James Bond".
The 61-year-old star - whose late partner, Game of Thrones' Ian Gelder, died aged 74 in 2024 - has insisted while he would gladly play a heterosexual role like Finn in BBC comedy Cutting It, Hollywood still makes it difficult for gay actors to land prominent roles.
He told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "It was such tremendous fun.
"But also those opportunities for gay actors aren’t really there as much as you say... A queer person will never be cast as James Bond, for instance."
Amazon MGM are yet to confirm the next 007 actor after Daniel Craig left the franchise after 2021's No Time To Die.
Ben added: "As a gay actor you’re not even seen for those roles. And quite often they still won’t employ queer actors in queer roles.”
He also pointed out that it's still tough for actors to come out publicly, insisting that Wicked actor Jonathan Bailey - who has been linked to the Bond job - is one of the few.
He said: "There are people who are, incredibly, still in the closet. Yes there are A-listers like Jonathan Bailey who is properly out ... but there aren’t many.
"Often I’m the only gay actor in the room. I was one of only a very few gay actors in [Netflix's Interview with the Vampire] which was interesting given that it was such a very queer show.”
As for why so few queer actors open up about their sexuality, Ben - who has also appeared in the likes of Law and Order UK, House of Cards and The Exorcist - suggested it's down to fear.
He added: "We all know which actors are queer, and I understand why they don’t come out, because they would work less.
"It’s not that I’m judging them, it’s just I myself couldn’t not be out.”
