Nicholas Galitzine has felt "guilt" over playing gay characters

He told British GQ magazine: "I identify as a straight man, but I have been a part of some incredible queer stories.

"I felt a sense of uncertainty sometimes about whether I'm taking up someone's space, and perhaps guilt.

"At the same time, I see those characters as not solely their sexuality."

In 'Handsome Devil', he played a closeted rugby player, while 'Red, White and Royal Blue' saw him play a gay prince, and he seduced the king of England in 'Mary and George'.

Nicholas - who also wants to be "taken seriously as a performer" beyond his good-looking roles - pointed out: "I am Nick, and I'm not my role."

'The Idea of You' star insisted he isn't worried about challenging societies ideas of masculinity, even if it wasn't always so easy a stance to take.

Nicholas - who went to an all-boys school and initially planned to be a pro athlete before injuries changed his plans - explained how his rugby dreams coming to an end made him feel "shame".

He said: "These people in my life who were supposed to be positive masculine figures, I felt their shame in me: shame that my body wasn't working properly."

He reflected on the "notion in masculinity" of always being "in control and certain", when that's often not the case.

He added: "I was a very scared young man. And I think a lot of men are really scared. I think they're scared of their own mortality.

"I think they're scared of being found out. There's this notion in masculinity that you have to be in control and certain of everything."