I am and I freely admit have always been what could be described as facially challenged - ie really ugly - a lifelong member of RUTS Really Ugly Tenor Society

It has not affected me that much because as a high baritone I sang Rigoletto and Scarpia etc plus endless tours of Hansel and Gretel as the Father although I probably frightened the kids more than the witch did !

When I became a tenor in my early 30s I did not sing the light lyric parts I went straight into roles like Enzo - Radames - Otello etc. What I would call the carthorse end of the tenor spectrum - lots of Canios etc ending singing Wagner and stuff

I wonder however if looks has affected some singers careers - I know of one tenor who lives round the corner from me who works mostly in Europe and cannot get good work in the UK He has a gorgeous lyric voice and is a good actor but is balding dumpy and makes me look like Brad Pitt

Ironically my looks - I have what acting agencies call "a strong look" ie guaranteed to frighten large vermin at 50 yards have worked to my advantage I have picked up much modelling and TV work as Captain Bligh - a very ugly mermaid in a blonde wig and had my semi clad body displayed all over the Tube for 3 months advertising a radio station

Any views - abuse to the usual address

I think last time we had this discussion, which was a few months ago now, we came to the conclusion that it depends on what sort of singing you're planning on doing.

I must admit that I do tend to be at the optimistic end of the scale. I refuse to be written off as past it just because I didn't start having singing lessons until I was thirty-five.

Looks are important, there is no doubt. Having said that it is possible to make the best of oneself, and to work with what one has. A toned figure, a good haircut and a well cared for set of teeth can make a lot of difference to a person's looks. If you look your best you will stand better and have a more confident attitude. When I was training there were two fellow students who were somewhat challenged in the looks department. One really wanted a job in production. She was a good singer but very overweight. In her final year she began to diet and lost a huge amount of weight. She became more confident, and began to dress well. A year later she was given a job with BBC. The other was a tenor who was short and dumpy. He wanted to be an opera singer but really wasn't anyone's idea of a hero. He also lost lots of weight, worked at his singing and is now well known as a performer of early opera and oratorio. Several years ago I actually stopped my car in a lay by to listen to a beautiful tenor voice on the radio. It was breathtaking, and it turned out to be him! (I cursed myself for having turned down a date with him years before!) There are some very unusual looking performers out there, whom I should not name, perhaps, but their personalities and manners have helped with their successes. One in particular was quite an ugly woman and would have won no beauty contests but her singing of some of the Verdi roles are renowned the world over. THE END. I have waffled enough!

Interesting responses

My points were based on my own experiences and those of some colleagues

1 A friend of mine who is an internationally known character tenor with a huge CV suddenly found the job offers stopped when he turned 50 - ditto a baritone of his acquaintance who was also with the same agency
My tenor friend has never found out why the work stopped although it has now resumed as a trickle - he has reskilled and is much happier

2 The film and TV industry is more brutally honest - at the age of 40 you go into the ugly file for castings no matter your physical state. When I started doing TV work I knew exactly what parts I would be playing based on my looks and physique I have played villains galore - workers in greasey spoons and "characters"

My last big job was advertising Hollyoaks I was part of the ugly cast playing the barman or an older greasier version of the barman One does not get insulted by this type of casting - only if the money is lousy

Final point on this theme I was required, as part of my audition for the Ugly agency to sing Nessun Dorma