Bodyguard: Richard Madden was mocked as ‘gay’ for taking acting lessons
Actor Richard Madden, who plays sergeant David Budd in BBC political thriller Bodyguard, was reportedly taunted by colleagues when he worked at a call centre because he went to an acting school.
Madden, who was brought up in the village of Elderslie, near Glasgow in Scotland, worked at a call centre selling kitchens while he was still at sixth form.
He went to drama lessons twice a week at Paisley Arts Centre because his school didn’t offer any theatre courses.
Madden played Robb Stark in HBO series Game of Thrones. (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty)
However, the 32-year old star, who rose to fame playing Robb Stark in HBO series Game of Thrones, was reportedly mocked by colleagues at the call centre for his stage school attendance.
Billy McDougall, an ex-colleague from the call centre, told The Sun: “People from the theatre group were perfect for the call-centre job because they were flamboyant and attention-seeking.
“I thought he might be gay because he was so theatrical, wore a bandana back then and had a bleach stripe through his hair.”
Speaking to The Sun, Madden’s uncle Gerry Mulholland explained: “It was difficult for him getting all that adulation and then going back to the rigmarole of the school day.
“A few of them were jealous and would have been trying to take him down a peg or two but that’s where his character comes in.”
Madden as David Budd in Bodyguard. (BBC)
The series revolves around Madden’s character, David Budd, as he works as a protection officer for the controversial home secretary Julia Montague.
Bodyguard has enjoyed huge success since it first aired on the BBC on August 26, becoming one of the most watched drama on British TV in a decade, with more than 10 million people tuning into the first episode alone.
Harington at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2018. (Michael Loccisano/Getty)
Madden’s former onscreen brother, Game of Thrones‘ Kit Harington recently criticised Marvel for not representing gay people.
In an interview with Variety, the actor, who plays Jon Snow in the HBO series, said there was a lack of queer actors in Marvel films.
“There’s a big problem with masculinity and homosexuality that they can’t somehow go hand in hand,” he said.
“That we can’t have someone in a Marvel movie who’s gay in real life and plays some superhero. I mean, when is that going to happen?”
