Also, if Colin just refused, I think ABC would listen, especially if Colin has a competent agent who can negotiate his contract. While he didn’t have a household name like Robert Carlyle prior to the show, he has developed a large following; he must know he brings in a large number of eyeballs each week. At the same time, he might feel stuck between a rock and hard place, since it’s those same fans whom he’s likely playing it up for some.
Right. I don’t think actors get a union rep to go batting for them in quite the same way that other traditionally strong unions might offer. I think that’s ultimately the agent’s job to negotiate with the producers/network what’s in the best interests of their client. I can imagine the network laughing at an actor’s complaint over what might be perceived as behavior that would put a strain on his marriage (along the lines of “oh grow up, this is part of the job”). I suspect there are large portions of this career that are steeped in retrograde, misogynist work culture. But that’s where the agent would come in and, for example, negotiate a contract where Colin only interviews alone, or gets to pick who he’s interviewing with.
Dear heavens, some sections of this fandom are such a sad bunch of turd muppets. The mind boggles. I do hope all these actors move on to do fantastic, rewarding projects after this. What is it about OUAT that somehow unleashed all the trolls?