November 15, 2024
Myha’la, the star of Industry: ‘Do people in finance really live these wild, coke-fuelled lives? I’m sure so’ #IndustryFinance

Myha’la, the star of Industry: ‘Do people in finance really live these wild, coke-fuelled lives? I’m sure so’ #IndustryFinance

CashNews.co

Industry shows Britain’s class and racial dynamics in an ugly light, and I’m interested to hear what an American makes of it. Some people argue that finance is a meritocracy: if you make money, you rise to the top, regardless of where you came from. But Industry’s successful people are not treated equally, and any character who fails to be white, or male, or born upper-class (or like Harper, all three), is a target for poisonous ‘banter’. When Eric (played by the excellent Ken Leung, whose parents are Chinese) is made a partner, his boss tells him, ‘I lobbied hard for it. I said, look around the room – it’s a bit monochromatic.’ Eric’s face falls in silent discomfort.