Tom Brittney has revealed that his decision to leave the ITV drama Grantchester in 2023 came at the worst possible time, as the Hollywood strike left him unemployed for months. The actor, who played clergyman Will Davenport alongside Robson Green's detective inspector Geordie Keating for nine series, said he left thinking he would move to another job, but the strike halted all productions.
Leap of Faith Gone Wrong
Brittney, inspired by predecessor James Norton's successful transition to Hollywood, took a risk by exiting the hit show. However, the timing coincided with the industry-wide strike. 'I was just sat there unemployed for months and months, going, “What have I done?”' he told Metro.
The strike, which occurred in 2023, prevented actors from working, leaving Brittney without any projects. He described the experience as making 'a sad decision even sadder.'
New Role in The Westies
By summer 2026, Brittney has landed his biggest role yet in The Westies, an MGM+ gangster series opposite Oscar winner JK Simmons. He plays Jimmy Roarke, the right-hand man to Simmons' Eamon Sweeney, head of the Irish mob that terrorized New York's Hell's Kitchen from the 1960s onwards.
The series has been compared to Peaky Blinders, but Brittney notes key differences. 'We're a very different show. I think the only comparison is that we're both based on real-life gangs,' he said, adding that the Westies were a real gang while the Shelbys were fictional.
Historical Grounding
The show is rooted in historical fact, following the gang's partnership with the Italian Gambino crime family during the construction of the Javits Center. Brittney admitted he knew nothing about the Westies before auditioning. 'I Googled everything about them, and I was completely blown away that no one had done anything about them before,' he said.
Working with JK Simmons
Brittney praised Simmons for making the set comfortable despite his intimidating on-screen persona. 'He's such a presence. He has this terrifying aura... but he makes the set the most comfortable place to be and shows you how to lead,' Brittney said. He recalled Simmons texting him before their first read-through and appearing with a massive beard grown for another role.
Future Ambitions
Beyond hopes for a second season of The Westies, Brittney expressed interest in playing James Bond, hinting at a 'certain martini-drinking character.' He also revealed he was a finalist for the role of Superman, losing to David Corenswet, but described the audition process with director James Gunn as fun.
If acting doesn't pan out, Brittney said he would like to become an investigative journalist in the style of Louis Theroux or Ross Kemp. The Westies is available to stream on MGM+ from July 12.
