Thandie Newton claims she can’t get work in the UK as Brits’ love of period dramas means there are no roles for black actors

ACTRESS Thandie Newton has revealed people of colour struggle to get roles in Britain because most roles are for period dramas.

The London-born star made the frank admission about her limited choice of roles in a new interview as she prepares to make her debut in popular BBC drama, Line Of Duty.

Thandie is currently enjoying success with her American science fiction thriller, WestWorld, but will be seen in Line Of Duty when the new series airs in April.

Speaking to about working on a British show, she explained: "I love being here, but I can't work, because I can't do Downton Abbey, can't be in Victoria, can't be in Call The Midwife - well, I could, but I don't want to play someone who's being racially abused."

She added: "I'm not interested in that, don't want to do it... there just seems to be a desire for stuff about the Royal Family, stuff from the past, which is understandable, but it just makes it slim pickings for people of colour."

Thandie - who is half Zimbabwean and half English -  has often spoken out about sexism as well as racism, and is proud to tackle both issues as DCI Roz Huntley in Line Of Duty.

The character is a mum of two being investigated for possible corruption by the dogged team at AC-12.

Thandie said: “Every woman will recognise the frustrations. In every role, in every job, every line of work, as a mother you just have to be twice as good and if you’re black you have to be twice as good on top of that.

"She’s a Senior Investigating Officer and she’s taken five years off, to raise her family and has to claw her way back to where she was. It’s a very real problem, what is most degrading is the sexual abuse that goes on whether it’s verbal or whether it’s physical it’s very tough on women.

She added: “Roz is under a hell of a lot of pressure and the audience sees that pressure and that allows the audience to be judge and jury, which I think is fantastic.

“It forces us to have an opinion about this and there is sexism there.”

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