Actor Ralph Fiennes has launched a foul-mouthed tirade against his fellow Brits, insisting they have a "depressing" obsession with the country's class structure.
The Schindler's List star was annoyed by recent comments from British actors Dame Helen Mirren and Andy Serkis, who have bemoaned the lack of young working-class stars and expressed fears that the profession is becoming the preserve of the wealthy.
Fiennes has branded the debate "retarded" and is adamant there are still plenty of roles available for actors from all backgrounds.
He has told Britain's Seven magazine, "This is so b**locky (rubbish), and all it is, is f**king England's obsession with class, and it's so depressing.
"And it's a media construct to run stupid articles about class this, posh actors that. It's so retarded to me, the discussion.
"It's not true. There are parts for everyone."
Fiennes said there simply "happens to be a couple of actors" in the limelight at the moment who have had "public" (the British expression for private) school educations.
"It's depressing, it's this country's f**king ghastly Achilles' heel, its obsession with class," he added.
"Good actors get work. Doesn't matter what their background."
Fiennes' full name is Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes. His grandfather was the industrialist Sir Maurice Fiennes.
