The Office's Ralph begrudges being typecast for 20 years

‘Every script I got was for a sexist/racist/bully/homophobe’: The Office’s Ralph Ineson begrudges being typecast for 20 years after his career-making role as Chris ‘Finchy’ Finch

The Office star Ralph Ineson has discussed being typecast after his role as Chris ‘Finchy’ Finch in the Ricky Gervais-created 2000 series. 

Taking to Twitter on Monday, the Leeds-born actor, 51, responded to a fan who shared a still from the Sky Atlantic miniseries Chernobyl, in which he plays Nikolai Tarakanov, alongside a joke about the third episode of The Office’s first series.

Ralph commented underneath: ‘To say I’m tired of every part I’ve played for the last 20 years being cross referenced with Finchy would be an understatement’, in a reference to the loathsome Chris, an unpleasant and arrogant character.

Hitting out: The Office star Ralph Ineson has discussed being typecast after his role as Chris ‘Finchy’ Finch in the Ricky Gervais-created 2000 series

Chris Finch was an irregular but key character in The Office and was known for his arrogance, rudeness and wildly inappropriate jokes. 

David Brent, played by Ricky, spends the majority of the show in awe of Chris and his womanising, self-proclaimed intelligence and allegedly hilarious jokes, although many disagree with all aspects of Chris’ vulgar being.  

In one of the final scenes of the Christmas Special, he goads David about his online date – branding her a dog – leading David to shun his adoration and triumphantly declare: ‘Do you know what Chris? Why don’t you f**k off?’

The Chernobyl tweet showed an image of Ralph in character looking upwards and the fan penned: ‘This is the deleted scene from Chernobyl where Finchy stuns his colleagues by throwing a pair of shoes over the burning reactor’. 

Oh dear… Taking to Twitter on Monday, the Leeds-born actor, 51, responded to a fan who shared a still from the Sky Atlantic miniseries Chernobyl, in which he plays Nikolai Tarakanov, alongside a joke about the third episode of The Office’s first series

Moving on: Chris Finch was an irregular but key character in The Office and was known for his arrogance, rudeness and wildly inappropriate jokes (Ralph pictured in 2018)

In Series One, Episode Three the staff of the paper merchant Wernham Hog all get together for a quiz and when bitter loser Chris and David lose, they offer to cancel out their loss by having Chris throw a shoe over the building. 

Ralph admitted he did find the joke funny but was finding it tiresome for years.

He wrote: ‘To say I’m tired of every part I’ve played for the last 20 years being cross referenced with Finchy would be an understatement. Very occasionally though they’re good so fair enough.’

When asked if he felt the role ‘helped or hindered his acting career’, he said: ‘More help than hinder but there were a few years following where every script I got was for a sexist/racist/bully/homophobe etc and it got a bit wearing…

Help or hindrance? When asked if he felt the role ‘helped or hindered his acting career’, he said: ‘More help than hinder but there were a few years following where every script I got was for a sexist/racist/bully/homophobe etc and it got a bit wearing’

Hitting out: He noted the points but responded: ‘Tired of the repetition, it’s a very quotable show and when you’ve had them for 20 years’

‘Getting to work with some amazing filmmakers these days so can’t grumble about my treatment by the casting world.’ 

Excitement rumbled among fans over his feelings, with one referencing the fact that Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook were also renowned for their roles as Tim Canterbury and Gareth Keenan respectively despite subsequent success. 

They wrote: ‘Sad to hear you’re tired of it. Its testament to a brilliant performance in an iconic show which is a key part of British culture for generations of people…

‘It is not designed to undermine the other performances and I believe its the same for Martin, Mackenzie, even Ricky.’

All star: Excitement rumbled among fans over his feelings, with one referencing the fact that Martin Freeman (second, left) and Mackenzie Crook (right) were also renowned for their roles as Tim Canterbury and Gareth Keenan respectively despite subsequent success

Another added: ‘Yea can’t agree with saying that to you. Its just hard not to watch Pirates Of The Caribbean and say “thats Gareth Keenan”, or “Tim stars in Fargo”…

‘It was so groundbreaking the mental bonds cannot be broken. Glad you’re still proud, many actors spend their whole lives chasing unforgettable roles Smiling face with open mouth and smiling eyes

He noted the points but responded: ‘Tired of the repetition, it’s a very quotable show and when you’ve had them for 20 years… 

‘I am though, incredibly proud to have been a part of such a great show and if complete strangers saying ‘Chris why don’t you just f**k off’ in my face is the price, so be it’, in reference to the final scene. 

As well as Chernobyl and The Office, he has also starred in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows and Salvage Hunters. 

Working out: He discussed the change in his roles

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