Anthony Carrigan says alopecia made him a better actor.

The actor who played Noho Hank in the HBO comedy Barry started losing his hair at the age of 20. When he turned 30, he had to wear false eyelashes and a wig to portray his character in The Forgotten.

Speaking to Page Six, Carrigan revealed that “several people” said he would no longer be doing roles due to hair loss.

“I was told that I was no longer attractive,” recalls the 42-year-old actor. “I was told that I would not be booking roles. It was something I had been so afraid to hear since I was little.”

But the negative reviews further strengthened his determination to pursue the roles he really wanted.

“It gave me passion and lit a fire to prove them wrong,” he explained. “And that’s basically what I did.”

The actor noted that alopecia made him a better actor because now he accepts his “uniqueness”.

He added, “I feel like everyone is trying to fit in in some way these days, and I feel like that makes people special. That’s where the interesting stuff comes from. There are very interesting performances from there.”

And it’s clear that Carrigan’s efforts have paid off, as he noted the “irresistible” love he receives playing Noho Hank, a gay Chechen mobster with a heart of gold.

“Just the amount of people coming up to me and talking to me or expressing their admiration… it really makes me feel like I’m part of something special,” he explained. “And I really try not to take anything for granted.”

While he admits he’s been offered many gangster roles since the success of Barry, he hopes to show Hollywood that he can do more.

“Everyone seems to be taking the same route,” he said. “I love playing the bad guys, it’s so much fun. But obviously yes, there are so many other roles and so many others that I can play.”

Source: RES-EMI