It is no secret that homophobia can be a barrier to people trying to find a new job.

The issue is also foremost in the public conscience. It often appears in the news and has been discussed at length by the candidates for London Mayor, Ken Livingstone and Brian Paddick, over recent weeks.

But despite homophobia being treated with such disdain by the media, it is still a sore point for even the most esteemed celebrities in the workplace, according to Hollywood star Alan Cumming.

A recent poll by gay charity Stonewall found that around one fifth of people have experienced some kind of homophobia in their jobs, with a great proportion of these no doubt feeling forced to find a new job as a result.

One famous case in recent history was that of the 'outed' Tinky Winky of Teletubby fame - criticised by US Reverend Jerry Falwell for homosexual tendencies such as his walk.

But while generally dismissed as quite a ridiculous quip - there is little more genderless than a purple lumpy creature with a television on its stomach and no genetalia - it was a small public revelation of what has remained a quite secret problem across the entertainment world.

Of course there are some industries that perform better than others. The latest Big Question survey suggested that the legal profession is far more tolerant of people's sexuality than employees in similar level accounting jobs or sales jobs.

However, Goldeneye and X-Men 2 star Cumming claims that the issue is deeper than that. He explained that "the media make it more of a deal and it's made into controversy".

Indeed the actor, who went to work for a Scottish pop magazine before turning his had to acting, is not the only celebrity thespian who believes gays are suffering in the work place. Actor and TV personality Stephen Fry claims he has been pigeonholed by directors and producers since coming out.

Cumming noted that problems were particularly rife for gay actors in Hollywood. However, he also conceded that straight actors get pigeonholed for lots of roles too.