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Dev Patel recalls "brutal" criticism over his appearance while on Skin s

Photo credit: Dave J Hogan - Getty Images
Photo credit: Dave J Hogan - Getty Images

Skins star Dev Patel has recalled how fans' negative comments about his appearance "took a toll on him" when he was just starting out in the industry.

While promoting new medieval fantasy The Green Knight recently, the Oscar-nominated actor remembered how he used to go on online chat rooms as a youngster to see what people were saying about the hugely popular teen drama. He said he would always regret doing so, though, when he'd see people ranking his character Anwar Kharral as the "least attractive."

Photo credit: Dave J Hogan - Getty Images
Photo credit: Dave J Hogan - Getty Images

Related: Dev Patel's The Green Knight pulled from UK cinemas ahead of release

"There were all these lists of who's the favourite character on the show or who was the best-looking character, and I was always the ugliest," he explained to the New York Times. "No one liked Anwar. It really took a toll on me personally."

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Patel was just 16 years old when he landed his role in Skins, having had no professional acting experience prior to that point. In the same interview, the now-31-year-old remembered how his "neighbours were horrified" about his parents letting him drop out of school and pursue a career in film and TV.

"The show was a hit, but it felt like suicide in the community," Patel said candidly. "While everyone else's kid is off becoming a doctor or a dentist, I'm here on this TV show, simulating sex and taking drugs."

Photo credit: Channel 4
Photo credit: Channel 4

Related: Dev Patel reveals he auditioned for Star Wars with an iPhone video

While Skins ran between 2007 and 2013, Patel's generation – the series famously switched out its cast every couple of seasons – saw him share the screen with several other actors who have gone on to find similar success include X-Men's Nicholas Hoult and Get Out's Daniel Kaluuya.

In David Lowery's The Green Knight, he plays Sir Gawain, King Arthur's headstrong nephew, who embarks on a quest to confront the titular figure – a gigantic tree-like creature.


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