// BBC ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS — MODA & SOCIETÀ
Tom Cullen says he does not take playing LGBT roles lightly
Tom Cullen takes on the role of Barry in Black Church Bay, whose life starts to unravel after an intimate encounter with younger man
Tom Cullen says he does not take the privilege of playing a gay character lightly.
Speaking at the screening of mystery-thriller Black Church Bay at the Iris Prize Festival, the Downton Abbey and House of the Dragon actor said representation mattered.
In the film, Cullen, from Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, plays a closeted man who finds he will go to any lengths to keep up appearances in his insular community.
It is not the first time Cullen has played a gay character, taking on his first ever role in 2011 British romantic drama Weekend.
He said: "What is wonderful is I feel like people can often pigeonhole queer cinema, and those two films show the spectrum and diversity that can be found."
The Cardiff-based Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival celebrates stories from across the world.
The annual festival, which works in partnership with BAFTA Cymru, is a seven-day event and this year celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Black Church Bay was written and directed by Rhys Marc Jones (second left), and stars Tom Cullen (second right) and Joe Locke (right)
Cullen said he approached the role of Barry "exactly the same" as he would a straight character.