Laurence Fox’s mayoral bid will ‘benefit him financially’ as controversial Lewis star turns back on acting

Laurence Fox has faced a sea of backlash in recent months, with the former Lewis actor clearly embracing the controversy, deciding to run for London Mayor.

He’s recently kicked off his campaign as he gears up to run against Sadiq Khan, and has vowed to ‘free London’ from lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Safe to say, Fox has made his political opinions very clear. But actors and celebrities trying their hand at politics hasn’t always gone so well in the past.

There’s no doubting that he had a successful acting career so far, starring in the likes of Lewis, Victoria, and most recently, White Lines.

The 42-year-old has suggested that he won’t return to acting. But if politics doesn’t pan out the way he hopes, will he have any kind of a career to return to? And what will he do next?

Could Laurence Fox ever return to acting?

Alex Felton, reputation expert for The PHA Group, said: ‘Laurence’s Fox’s decision to run for London Mayor will have almost certainly ended his acting career for the foreseeable future and he has admitted as much when discussing his former agent ending their professional relationship recently and even making prominent reference to it in his campaign launch speak on Tuesday.

‘For his career, I think we now have to make a differentiation between any acting roles and TV roles. Some could argue that he accomplished a great deal of what he wanted to in the acting world with prime roles in the ITV drama Lewis for just over 10 years and having acting jobs on the stage in the West End as well.

‘TV roles going forward are very much on the cards whether that be in broadcast news, politics or reality TV down the line – if anything he is now engaging a completely different set of audiences than he ever had done as an actor and that can only benefit him financially in the end.’

PR expert Anthony Burr, founder of Burr Media, added that, while Fox has made it clear that he doesn’t have his sights set on returning to acting, it will be very difficult for him if he changes his mind.

‘No matter what the outcome of his London mayoral campaign is, it will be very difficult for Laurence to return to the level he was at before, because of his controversial views, which do not sit well in his industry,’ he explained.

‘[His talent agency has] dropped him and it would be a major risk for any agency to work with him again, as other actors on their books may take umbrage with being on the same platform as him.

‘And without an agency, work will be hard to find. If he did want to make a comeback then it would either be in his own productions, or he would have to wait a number of years and a possible change in his attitude towards “woke culture” before any agency or mainstream production would be interested in him.

‘But this won’t bother him right now, as he seems to have his sights firmly set on a career in activism and politics.’

Will his controversial opinions have harmed his reputation?

‘[They have] been harmful,’ Burr asserted. ‘He has been a major critic of the NHS, calling it out as “not fit for purpose [if it could not cope with the coronavirus pandemic]”.

‘The NHS is a national treasure, the envy of the world, which the majority of UK residents cherish and appreciate more than ever right now. He has also been in opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement, which has further alienated him from a huge audience.

‘Of course, he has his supporters, but they are marginalised and I can’t see his reputation being enhanced by this campaign. Some will empathise, but his radical views will not win him mainstream support and his campaign will end in failure.

‘The only impact he may have is putting a slight dent in Conservative candidate Shaun Bailey’s campaign, by taking protest votes against incumbent London Mayor Sadiq Khan and away from Bailey.’

However, Felton added: ‘We know that speaking openly about the lockdown restrictions splits the public. Public polling in the last twelve months has shown that the majority of the British public agree with lockdowns on health reasons but there is a very prominent movement that is anti-lockdown and pro-civil liberty.

‘He is obviously very in tune with that voice and through Twitter communicates with a growing support base. The media and corporate world does tend to shun these anti-lockdown sentiments but he will find those out there happy to listen to him and even agree wholeheartedly. The attitudes can be detrimental to his career but it depends on what career he wants: acting, business or politics.’

What could he do next?

‘Stepping back into acting will be very challenging due to the nature of the industry but I think he has been very clear that he won’t do that,’ Felton explained.

‘If he wants to be a political campaigner and dissenter like Nigel Farage then he can carry on a TV career away from treading the boards and instead needs to lean in to the political world and go for it not just as a fringe candidate but as a career candidate.

‘For what he wants to do now I think all publicity is good publicity. Who knows his controversial views may not be that controversial in six to 12 to 24 months’ time. Look at where Brexit took us!’

Burr pointed out: ‘Documentaries, reality television and streaming channels is where Fox will probably be seen in the nearest future, but I can’t see many investors, directors or producers wanting to risk casting Fox. He has alienated many of his fellow actors and peers already.’

‘Laurence Fox is an intelligent guy, but his deep-seated responses to “woke culture”, necessary lockdown rules, the NHS and in some instances race and the Black Lives Matter movement have not been well thought through,’ he continued.

‘If Laurence wants to make a positive impact then he must get through to millennials and Gen Z, who are the most influential people out there at the moment.

‘In a world where “cancel culture” is rife, my worry for the former Lewis star is that after his London Mayoral bid, he will be the next on their list to be cancelled from having any impact on public life.’

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