It's A Sin's Nathaniel Hall has opened up about the emotional letter he wrote to his parents about his HIV diagnosis.
The 34-year-old actor, who plays Donald Bassett in the hit Channel 4 drama, appeared on Lorraine as he opened up about the stigma surrounding being HIV positive.
Nathaniel contracted HIV when he was 16 after having sex for the first time and didn't tell anyone for years.
Opening up about his struggle for self-acceptance, Nathaniel said: "I've got a really good relationship with my family - I came out at 16 as gay, they've been very supportive, and I think what that demonstrates to people is the power of the shame and stigma that surrounding HIV. It's probably the most stigmatised disease in the world.
"So although we're really, really close but I really struggled to say this thing. There was a lot of shame that I was carrying and a lot of self-stigmatising as well.
"And it took me 15 years for me to realise that it was really impacting my mental wellbeing and it was at that point that I thought I needed to tell my family about what I was living with."
Lorraine responded: "And the reaction was fine!"
He replied: "Do you know what, the reaction was actually really underwhelming! I wrote a letter to my mum and dad and my siblings - I've got three siblings - and I got a few texts and my mum came over the next day and we had a little chat."
Nathaniel also opened up about his fear over negative attitudes returning as a result of the drama.
He said: "One of the things I was worried about with it with It’s A Sin was that it very much focuses on the gay version of the story. Over 50% of the people who live with HIV in the UK are heterosexual.
"It also [showed] the history of HIV. So you know, people not knowing how it was transmitted, cleaning themselves in the shower. I was worried that we might see some of those attitudes resurface. But actually, what’s happened is the complete opposite."
The actor added: "All of a sudden, everyone’s talking about HIV and all the amazing charities around the country. HIV activists have jumped on this moment, this national conversation and gone, 'HIV has changed, here’s what you need to know, and here’s how we could end HIV for good to the UK.'
"So it just shows you the phenomenal impact that like a TV drama can have on something like this."
*Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV
