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David Harewood has criticised the lack of opportunities for young black actors in the UK and has advised them to consider heading to the US.
The star - who was recently awarded an MBE - said there was a lack of "authoritative, strong black characters" for British actors.
Birmingham-born David blamed the British TV industry for its lack of risk-taking and said it was less "ambitious" than its US counterpart.
The 46-year-old made his comments at the launch of Homeland, a new US drama series in which he stars that is shortly to be screened by Channel 4.
He plays the director of a CIA counter-terrorism team in the Golden Globe-winning thriller, also starring fellow Brit Damian Lewis, as well as Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin.
He said: "Unfortunately there really aren't that many roles for authoritative, strong, black characters in this country. We just don't write those characters, that's a fact."
David said British actor Idris Elba - who found fame in Baltimore-based The Wire - had talked to him about the greater opportunities offered across the Atlantic.
He said: "I can remember talking to Idris years ago about these frustrations and he told me 'I'm going to America', and I kind of thought, 'What are you doing that for?'.
He went on: "I don't want to trash this place, but I do think there is a certain lack of ambition in terms of telling a global story.
"It's quite parochial sometimes. I don't think it's as ambitious. When you're sitting down watching the best of American TV, it is risk-taking."
