British actor Rupert Everett has launched a bitter attack against Hollywood bosses for denying him romantic roles because he is gay.

The My Best Friend's Wedding star, 47, compares himself to leading man Hugh Grant, and believes the Notting Hill star has enjoyed more success than him simply because he is heterosexual.

Everett says, "Without doubt gays are discriminated against in show business. The straight one gets to walk down a red carpet with a beautiful girl and everything works out and the gay one has to back-pedal and do independent movies. Yet everything Hugh Grant does, I could be in."

The star insists he could never feign a heterosexual relationships in a bid to get ahead: "To be a movie star you have got to have a good-looking girlfriend and for Hugh, Elizabeth Hurley helped. It is a trophy job. You need a lot of energy to have a trophy girlfriend. I take my hat off to anyone who has one."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)