Star of Dr Who, Sherlock and current HBO drama Looking, Rusell Tovey, has got himself in a bit of trouble. The actor, who as a gay man has successfully played both gay and straight men, has recently been quoted as saying:

“If I’d have been able to relax, prance around, sing in the street, I might be a different person now..."

An interesting choice of words that have inevitably bubbled up a backlash from angered online commentators, who feel as though Tovey’s sentiments are unsympathetic and crass.

My only response to Russell Tovey is: I'm so glad that worked out for you.

— Tyler Coates (@tylercoates) March 2, 2015

Lost all respect for Russell Tovey after his interview with the Guardian. Drama school is more than prancing around and being gay. #wanker.

— Maximillian Murphy (@Maximillian96) March 2, 2015

@russelltovey I understand your story/opinion but statements like yours divide the gay community & propagate hate towards us by others. Sad.

— Joseph Philipp (@jojowizphilipp) March 2, 2015

In the interview for The Guardian, Tovey relates how a horrific knife incident paired with his parent’s initial reaction to his sexuality made him reluctant to play gay characters for a decade.

It makes for eye-opening reading, and Tovey's opinions on the potential implications of drama school for a homosexual man are certainly contentious. Paired with the scars of a violent history, his is a compelling, if not divisive story.