Dan Stevens finds it "terrifying" that actors are being cast on the strength of their social media following

Dan - who has less than one million followers on Instagram - told the Daily Mail newspaper: "You hear about people being cast because they have a certain number of Instagram followers, and that's terrifying. It's trying to put a metric on popularity ... and it just doesn't work."

Dan is saddened that casting decisions are being made on the basis of "an algorithmic spreadsheet".

The 'Beauty and the Beast' star said: "Of course, when there's big money involved and lots of risk, everyone wants the three-point average. It's so bizarre.

"It makes you shudder to think that you're churned into an algorithmic spreadsheet."

Earlier this year, Ethan Hawke bemoaned Hollywood's obsession with social media numbers.

The 54-year-old actor finds it "crazy" that actors get cast based on their Instagram following.

Speaking at the Berlin Film Festival, Ethan explained: "I really feel for these people. It's really hard. Sometimes I'll be setting a movie up and someone will say, 'Oh, you should cast Suzie.' I'm like, 'Who is she?' 'She has ten million followers.' I'm like, 'OK cool, has she acted before?' 'No, but...' And you're like, 'Wow, so this is going to help me get the movie made? This is crazy.'

"So if I don't have this public-facing [platform], I don't have a career? And if I get more followers I might get that part? What?"

Ethan observed that so many young performers now think acting is all about "protein shakes and going to the gym".

The film star continued: "I wish they could meet Phil Hoffman like I did when I was 18, because it's a much more substantive and enjoyable life.

"I mean, go to the gym if you want to, but that doesn't make you - Robert De Niro is not great because he has a six-pack. If the part calls for it, he'll do it, and that's awesome. But he's so much more than that."