According to Barrie during a DVD commentary for Red Dwarf he is the only member of the Red Dwarf cast who was thought to be 'legit' actor by David Ross, the actor who originally portrayed the character of Kryten.
Chris Barrie: (comparing Rimmer from red dwarf with Brittas from Brittas empire)The Rimmer character was more complex, tortured in many ways whereas Brittas who was told he was brilliant at everything when he was a youngster turned into just an administrative monster who didn't know how to deal with people.
Chris Barrie: (When asked which character he liked more – Rimmer in red dwarf or Brittas from Brittas empire) Well they were both pains in the neck but apart from that they were quite different I guess...both.
Chris Barrie: I never attended a drama school so I'm not a "proper" actor. Acting is good because it's open to everyone, with any type of career, this way they can bring their lifestyle to work with them.