It is so sad that in 21st century Britain we dont want to give our black actors any work of worth, and find we have to go the USA for work. Actors like, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Lenny James, Adrian Lester, Eamonn Walker, Treva Etienne, and so many more cant get any work here, it a shame.
"If God hadn't meant for them to be sheared, he wouldn't have made them sheep"
I would agree about class issues.
Of the actors mentioned, Lennie James and Adrian Lester do get work in the UK, each appearing in recent major BBC dramas ("The Family Man" and "Hustle". The only US thing I have ever seen Adrian Lester in is the film "Primary Colors" but I will go and check out his IMDB page now). The fact is that TV series over here run for shorter runs and pay less well than in the US, which may have something to do with why fewer actors are perceived to have "made it" in programmes here - it is a lot harder to do so. There are only a few big megastars on English TV, e.g. David Jason or the late John Thaw. Everyone else is playing catch-up.