21. Finally, Joel's advice to gay actors in leading man roles? Don't come out.
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One of the things that interested me about your book is that you talk a lot about being a gay man in the industry. What kinds of things are actors told to keep to themselves, and do you think that's a good thing or a bad thing?
Joel: I think, for some reason, you can be a female movie star and be an out lesbian... Probably because straight men find lesbians "interesting". However, there is not one single out gay movie star. Television, yes, you have people like Matt Bomer and Neil Patrick Harris (although he grew up in front of our eyes, so he doesn't count). But name me one out gay movie star in feature films ever. There is none! I think the closest we ever got was Richard Chamberlain, but he came out after a certain point when his career was kind of over.
I think it's because of the tremendous amount of money involved in feature films, and the suspension of disbelief. That disbelief totally disappears on stage, but it doesn't translate to movies. I guess I would urge, if you are a handsome leading man on track to becoming a movie star, keep it to yourself. Do not come out.
I do think things are changing though – do you know who Jonathan Bailey is, for instance?
Joel: No.
Well, he's gonna be in the new Wicked film.
Joel: Is he Fiyero? Fiyero is not the star of the show. I think there are two other people in Wicked who have more important parts. Also, you can be gay as Fiyero. You're in a silly costume and you're not the *star* star! Anyway, that's my two cents, as saddening as it is.
Link: "Do Not Come Out" – We Asked A Hollywood Casting Director Whatever We Wanted, And The Answers Are Shocking
What do you think?
I mean, this is why so many young queer actors are playing the Schrödinger's queer game, where they won't comment on their sexuality except in vague or non-committal terms. They're trying to walk a fine line, where they get to live their private lives openly and honestly, but still maintain the plausible deniability that will help their careers. Hollywood has made strides, yes, but there's still a looooong way to go, and we're in a period of strong backlash right now. It's very difficult.
