Why do British actors and actresses pull a Caruso more frequently than American ones do.

I'm guessing part of it is there is so much other work in the UK - stage, film, TV, radio... if they're really in it for the work there is more choice.

Secondly, pay in the UK is comparative crap to the U.S. so whether they intend to try to crack the U.S. market or not, it's not really a massive loss to end a UK run.

It must be there is no massive money incentive to stay in a creative rut.

Connie Britton does this too.

OP names 2 Brits and 2 American who have done this. Maybe just a bit more actual evidence would be useful?

Seems that Stevens and Brown Findlay both thought they'd have a spectacular movie career after their Downton popularity but they went the Shelley Hack way instead.

Dan Stevens has been busy enough. JBF disappeared except for Harlots.

I gather JBF did some critically praised West End theatre and during the pandemic married and had a baby.

Dr. Who?

The name says it all.

Doctor Who is designed to rotate leads every three series/seasons. No such thing as a 5th year renegotiation for the BBC.

Sarah Lancashire and Suranne Jones "did a Caruso" when they left Coronation Street, Jenna Coleman did the same with Emmerdale.

Actors like June Brown and Ken Barlow man are the exception, not the rule.

Becoming typecast is something a lot of actors fear, so jumping ship after a couple of years seems sensible.

UK series typically have much shorter seasons than their American counterparts. Often the viewer statistics and feedback to make a decision on whether to continue with another season come in after production has wrapped and the cast and crew moved on to other projects.

It's the reason that there are often a couple years or more between seasons on the U.K.; it can take some time to get the key people available at the amar time to resume production.

Shorter seasons and a need to draw a storyline to a reasonable stand-alone conclusion rather than just a cliffhanger also contribute to the relative quality of UK shows.

In the U.K. actors work more, some jump from TV to theatre and keep busy because salaries are leaner and keeping ones hand in projects is what ensures steadier work and steadier income. There is less tendency to have to view each new underling as another step upward on a ladder; moving sideways or taking on a small role and making some money doing it is not seen as failure as it might be in the U.S.

Stop tarnishing Enrico Caruso's reputation! He never pulled this, and if he did, it was justified.

Remember there's a social class issue. Nowadays, British actors are by and large middle class and above, so they come from families wealthy enough to support them while they look for the perfect job so they don't have to take every job they're offered.

The lead actor on Grantchester did that, too. Also Ben Hardy on Eastenders. Plus the original lead actress on Call the Midwife. Brits are such twits!

Even the 55 year olds?