Aidan Turner, star of Poldark and the recent series Rivals, says he has grown weary of being cast and interviewed primarily for his appearance. The 43-year-old actor, who has spent two decades in roles that made him a "smouldering pin-up," told the Guardian he tires of being asked about looking "sexy" and receives attention on Reddit forums and merchandise dedicated to his looks.
Turner recently grew a full beard hoping to discourage such focus. "I thought it wouldn't happen so much with the beard," he said. "I thought I could get away with it. I was going for 'dad'." He appeared in Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National Theatre in London this summer, a role the New Yorker noted still showcased his characteristic smoulder.
Turner acknowledged the bind: actors sell stories through romance and sex, and he has played many such roles. But he suggested the weight of being objectified for his appearance, while also being a capable actor, places him in an awkward position. If he expresses fatigue with the focus on his looks, he risks appearing ungrateful.