Paterson Joseph on Hollywood Inequality: 'Class, Not Race, Is the Real Battle'
British acting stalwart Paterson Joseph has opened up about systemic inequalities in the entertainment industry, arguing that class barriers often overshadow racial discrimination when it comes to career opportunities. The 61-year-old London-born actor, currently starring in the new Warner Bros horror-action-comedy They Will Kill You, shared his perspectives in a candid interview with Metro.
A Bloody Romp with Heart
Joseph describes his latest film as "a bloody romp" that blends horror, action, and comedy in a creepy 1920s hotel setting. "From beginning to end, even though it has a sort of emotional and deadly quality to it, you get a little twinkle out of everything," he explained. The actor admitted he doesn't typically watch horror films and was surprised by how much he laughed during his first screening.
"I realised if I was in a room full of people, it'd be just immense. It'd be lovely!" Joseph said of the cinematic experience he hopes audiences will enjoy now that the film has been released.
An Eclectic Cast and Surprising Character
They Will Kill You features an enjoyably eclectic cast including Zazie Beetz, Patricia Arquette, Tom Felton, Myha'la, and Heather Graham. Joseph described his co-stars as "just really nice human beings" and shared anecdotes about their off-screen camaraderie, including ukulele sessions with Felton and bonding with Arquette.
Joseph plays Ray, a hotel staff member whose introduction deliberately subverts audience expectations. "We think he's the janitor, which is all I ever wanted from the scene, in the way that we just do sort of dismiss characters because of their status," he revealed. The character's relationship with Arquette's character is defined by bitter humor, with Joseph teasing: "When she says, 'I love you', he says 'F*** off'. And for me, that sums up their relationship."
A Career of British Excellence
With a career spanning decades across theater, television, and film, Joseph has become one of Britain's most recognizable acting faces. His extensive credits include:
- The Royal Shakespeare Company productions
- Television roles in Peep Show, Green Wing, Survivors, and Vigil
- Films like In the Name of the Father, The Beach, and Wonka
Despite his success, Joseph has largely remained UK-based while many of his contemporaries have sought opportunities across the Atlantic.
The Class Barrier in Entertainment
Addressing the ongoing conversation about opportunities for Black British actors, Joseph offered a nuanced perspective. While acknowledging that "the world is an unfair place for people whose skin is not white," he emphasized that class represents a more significant barrier.
"That's not the issue to me. The issue is always a class thing: what class of people are being allowed those opportunities even, to do that crossover?" Joseph explained. He contrasted his own working-class Caribbean British background with middle-class Black actors who have found success in Hollywood.
"They have the same confidence as a Cumberbatch or a Redmayne because of that sort of expectation that you have when you've been given that education," he observed. "Whereas when you come from where I come from, you feel like you're in a battle all the time. It's a cultural battle, and the culture is class."
American Opportunities and Missed Chances
Joseph acknowledged that America offers more work opportunities for actors, regardless of ethnicity, simply due to market size. "Your ethnicity plays no part in that. It's the market here, it's small," he said of the UK industry.
The actor reflected on his American television experience with NBC's time-travel drama Timeless (2016-2018), which he believes was canceled prematurely. "It was going to groundswell into something really great," Joseph lamented, noting the show's popularity among students and history enthusiasts.
Looking Forward
Joseph is currently filming Prime Video's television reboot of Lara Croft, starring Sophie Turner and featuring Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs, and Celia Imrie. While details remain confidential, he expressed enthusiasm for the project and praised writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge's dynamic approach.
They Will Kill You is now showing in cinemas nationwide, offering audiences Joseph's first full horror role in a career that continues to challenge industry norms and expectations.
