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Post by Bonobochick on Apr 2, 2008 12:30:34 GMT -5
Simone - I have a friend (who works for one of the American soap opera magazines) who told me months ago about Tony Geary. I had no idea. I didn't even know that he had a longterm relationship with Ron Glass from Barney Miller and Firefly/Serenity. Not German, but Javier Bardem and Antonio Banderas have both done gay movies. Banderas actually grew to international prominence for his work in Almodóvar's films where he played a gay character twice. Yes, Tony Geary is gay. He is out though he doesn't discuss it in interviews and the soap mags never ask. Whaaaa? I didn't know any of this. Well, seeing as how at different points in time I watched GH & Luke/Laura, I think Tony Geary is more proof that a gay actor can play a "tough guy straight role" so folks in Hollywood need to stop questioning that.
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Post by lolaruns on Apr 2, 2008 12:37:45 GMT -5
I used to watch GH for a while and it was generally known among the hardcore fans that he has a partner who he regularly lives with in the Netherlands. That's why he regularly takes several months off (usually showing up on GH as "Luke goes on a whacky adventure") because he lives there part time.
Clark Gable. Rock Hudson.
I'm starting to think that maybe gay guys actually might make better romantic leading men precisely because they aren't attracted to the actresses and hence don't get, err, distracted. Or that it might be a good thing in love scenes if the actress can trust the guy in question more than she would trust a straight guy.
Luke and Laura were definitely beloved by their fans for their sensuality.
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Post by Difficult Diva on Apr 2, 2008 13:51:58 GMT -5
There's also Rupert Everett. The very first time I saw him was in this NBC mini-series from the mid 80's called, Princess Daisy and he portrayed this troubled, alcoholic, drugged out Prince, who's fallen in love with his step-sister (he also rapes her when they were in their late teens). Whenever he's portraying a straight character (or gay character) on film, he exudes such charm and attractiveness, that it makes sense that his character is able to get the object of his affection. He did this film, "An Ideal Husband" starring Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett, Minnie Driver and Jeremy Northam. He had chemistry with ALL of his co-stars. All of them. I used to watch GH for a while and it was generally known among the hardcore fans that he has a partner who he regularly lives with in the Netherlands. That's why he regularly takes several months off (usually showing up on GH as "Luke goes on a whacky adventure") because he lives there part time. Clark Gable. Rock Hudson. I'm starting to think that maybe gay guys actually might make better romantic leading men precisely because they aren't attracted to the actresses and hence don't get, err, distracted. Or that it might be a good thing in love scenes if the actress can trust the guy in question more than she would trust a straight guy. Luke and Laura were definitely beloved by their fans for their sensuality.
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Simone
Junior Member
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Post by Simone on Apr 2, 2008 18:52:00 GMT -5
Simone - I have a friend (who works for one of the American soap opera magazines) who told me months ago about Tony Geary. I had no idea. I didn't even know that he had a longterm relationship with Ron Glass from Barney Miller and Firefly/Serenity. I had heard about Tony and Ron Glass. Frankly, I can't imagine Tony having a long term relationship. He was a serious party boy for many years. Maybe they had an open relationship. Now that I can believe. LOL!
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Post by Bonobochick on Apr 3, 2008 13:16:43 GMT -5
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Post by ankyfrilles on May 6, 2008 15:41:56 GMT -5
Actors gay or straight have a moral responsibility when they accept a project. They are given the script ahead of time to read it and dissect it; in fact given enough ample time to be able to decide whether to accept or reject it. The moment they sign the contract and consented to do that specific project, then there is no turning back; they have to do what is specifically asked of the role they must play. Usually it is the fault of the director for allowing a lousy take to pass. Directors have the right to do as many "takes" (the Olie and Christian first kiss had 76 takes I assumed according to what I read in the actor's interviews) until the scene is done perfect according to the director's taste. Its the lazy director who allow actors to do the "ducking". The director usually discuses ahead of time the specific technical aspects like: techniques and angles where the camera will be whether it is a close-up or a long shot. It takes a whole week of rehearsals for an episode to be aired next month as per interview of the actor who plays Olie. The bed scenes are carefully rehearsed and the skin to skin touch is even sometimes protected with a thin covering with the aid of adhesive surgical tapes or bandages and some tiny special effects so the genitals do not accidentally penetrate or the leakage and wet spots are not shown. A kissing scene is given specific details because saliva and body fluids are exchanged. The USA has unions that specifically rule out any unhygienic or unhealthy practices. It had to be well choreographed and positioned. The director motivates the actor to be able to create more colorful nuances. I do not understand how an actor can do a last minute escapist tactics such as "ducking" just to evade a scene for how can one evade a kiss for a week when it is done several times in rehearsals? They don’t do "ducking" even in the USA, they will be sued and it costs a lot of money. European actors especially of the Latin blood have no qualms about nudity, sexuality or kissing the same sex. I applaud people who can go an extra mile to portray a role. Artists are raised above the level of the general public, they set trend of thoughts and they give guidance as to how people must think and accept new cultures and mores. That is why the public put them in an ivory tower and the fans adulate them. The price they have to pay is they lose their personal privacy because the public have raised them to a level of artistic expression.
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Post by lolaruns on May 9, 2008 5:29:52 GMT -5
Okay, a thought. I was just reading through the afterElton best gay week special and the linked interview of Nicolas Gob stating that he isn't straight as well as the speculation on a certain actor fueled by Perez Hilton.
Which made me think. Whenever the question comes up whether gay actors should out themselves and whether it would be bad for their careers there are discussions. Frequently, if people do think that it would be to the detriment of an actor you quickly find bitching about straight people not being able to distinguish between the actor and the role, or stupid dellusional females who would stop being the fan of an actor when they find out he is gay because it ruins the illusion for them when the actor would never sleep with them anyway.
Yet... don't these attitudes exist on the other side of the fence too? Because I sometimes get the impression that there is an air excitenment when a new actor is discovered who might be gay and an air of disappointment when he reveals somewhere that he is straight (and no, I'm not talking about actors who many suspect is lying on the subject, but actors where previously people didn't know for sure until he came down as straight somewhere). I do get the excitment when a new out gay actor is discovered (go Dennis Grabosch!) because there aren't too many of them but my question, does it translate to sexiness too? Is to more fun/sexy to be a fan of an actor who you know is gay or just suspect he might be or could be gay and it's suddenly less sexy when he says he isn't?
It seems to be part of the territory that the moment somebody plays a gay role people start wondering whether the person is gay or straight. Is that annoying or insultive or even normal? I tend to think that some amount of gossip is normal and honestly, I don't see how being gay should be something negative and why being gossipped to be gay should be something negative any more than it would be to be suspected to like orange juice or rock climbing. On the other hand again, if I imagine it in the reverse, I would imagine it would be very annoying to be a gay actor in a straight role and to constantly have people asking you "Are you straight? Are you sure you aren't straight? Are you sure you are gay? Are you sure you aren't at least a bit straight? What if the woman was really hot? What do you think of heterosexual love? Are you sure you have never ever with a woman? Not even a little bit?". I could picture that being very annoying if that is all you are asked about.
Thoughts?
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Post by GayTime on May 9, 2008 9:14:33 GMT -5
Okay, a thought. I was just reading through the afterElton best gay week special and the linked interview of Nicolas Gob stating that he isn't straight as well as the speculation on a certain actor fueled by Perez Hilton. Which made me think. Whenever the question comes up whether gay actors should out themselves and whether it would be bad for their careers there are discussions. Frequently, if people do think that it would be to the detriment of an actor you quickly find bitching about straight people not being able to distinguish between the actor and the role, or stupid dellusional females who would stop being the fan of an actor when they find out he is gay because it ruins the illusion for them when the actor would never sleep with them anyway. Yet... don't these attitudes exist on the other side of the fence too? Because I sometimes get the impression that there is an air excitenment when a new actor is discovered who might be gay and an air of disappointment when he reveals somewhere that he is straight (and no, I'm not talking about actors who many suspect is lying on the subject, but actors where previously people didn't know for sure until he came down as straight somewhere). I do get the excitment when a new out gay actor is discovered (go Dennis Grabosch!) because there aren't too many of them but my question, does it translate to sexiness too? Is to more fun/sexy to be a fan of an actor who you know is gay or just suspect he might be or could be gay and it's suddenly less sexy when he says he isn't? It seems to be part of the territory that the moment somebody plays a gay role people start wondering whether the person is gay or straight. Is that annoying or insultive or even normal? I tend to think that some amount of gossip is normal and honestly, I don't see how being gay should be something negative and why being gossipped to be gay should be something negative any more than it would be to be suspected to like orange juice or rock climbing. On the other hand again, if I imagine it in the reverse, I would imagine it would be very annoying to be a gay actor in a straight role and to constantly have people asking you "Are you straight? Are you sure you aren't straight? Are you sure you are gay? Are you sure you aren't at least a bit straight? What if the woman was really hot? What do you think of heterosexual love? Are you sure you have never ever with a woman? Not even a little bit?". I could picture that being very annoying if that is all you are asked about. Thoughts? I, unfortunately, found the AfterElton article to be a bit of a double standard. Especially since there'd been a post on AfterElton THREE DAYS before on that same actor speculating about him being gay and the very first comments name the same boyfriend Perez Hilton does. Unfortunately I think there's always a bit of jealousy involved from other bloggers, because even though Mario Lavandeira (Perez' real name) never had an original thought on his blog and presumably in his life, he gets 2 million hits, what- every day? I think people just love clarity - I, personally, don't see a problem with speculating abut someone's sexual orientation, especially when they portray someone gay in a movie. I am sure all the actors agreeing to go for such a part are very well aware that they'll be subjected to exactly that. But it's a media thing - note how actors never bring it up by themselves, but it's always the interviewer asking. If Nicolas Gob is asked point blank whether he is gay and he REALLY is not, he has every right to say that. Does that make him less sexy or devalue his portrayal of Kevin on LES BLEUS? 100% absolutely not!
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Post by aussie54 on Jul 18, 2008 21:25:02 GMT -5
This thread has lapsed, but I enjoyed reading it very much. I don't think I have much to add to the conversation, but I had some thoughts ... ankyfrilles states that it took 76 takes for Christian and Olli's first kiss. That's amazing ... I'd love to read the article where that's mentioned. Regarding straight actors playing gay roles ... I can think of a few, who've gone on to become well known. Gary Oldman and Al Molina played gay lovers in "Prick Up Your Ears". David Thewlis and Leonardo DiCapprio played lovers in "Total Eclipse". Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve ... Alan Rickman ... I'm sure there are many others. It doesn't seem to have affected their careers. But I can't think off-hand of many out gay men who've played straight romantic leads. John Barrowman is playing a "try-anything-sexual" lead in Torchwood. It's funny to think he was turned down for the lead role in Will and Grace, because he was too straight. The actors who starred in the UK version of "Queer as Folk" were all straight as far as I know, and did a fabulous job of looking the part ... no ducking there. I'm sure they were constantly asked if they were gay, though ... I agree with GayTime that it's human nature to speculate. I'm not sure why it's important to know if an actor's gay or not. It's certainly not harmed John Barowman ... he has loads of female fans, and his concerts are sold out. Surely not all of them think they can turn him, if only given the chance. ;D Personally I'd love it if either Jo or Thore from Verbotene Liebe was gay in real life, because they're wonderful actors, and it would enhance people's opinions if they won awards for their acting. "See, you don't have to be straight to be a wonderful actor!" Does that make sense? I dunno ... I just have a thing for gay lovers, and knowing the actors are like that in RL is a bonus for me.
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Post by sheepiefarm on Jul 19, 2008 19:10:55 GMT -5
Alan Cumming is an out gay actor who has had a fairly succesful career - admittedly never as the male lead.
Str8 actors who have played gay roles... Jude Law - Wilde Ewan McGregor - can't remember in which film Robert Carlyle - Priest
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softfurbear
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Post by softfurbear on May 2, 2009 0:31:08 GMT -5
Str8 actors who have played gay roles... Jude Law - Wilde Ewan McGregor - can't remember in which film Robert Carlyle - Priest Jude Law also played Kevin Spacey's boyfriend in "Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil.” For Ewan McGegor there are actually 2 gay roles and 1 bisexual role that I can think of. "The Pillow Book" (bisexual), "The Velvet Goldmine", & "I Love You Phillip Morris". Off the top of my head here are some more straight actors in gay roles: Russell Crowe in The Sum of Us, Christian Bale in The Velvet Goldmine, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain; Dennis Quaid in Far from Heaven, Antonio Banderas in Labyrinth of Passion, False Eyelashes, Law of Desire and with Tom Hanks in Philadelphia, Robert Downey Jr. and Tobey Maguire in Wonder Boys, Kevin Kline in De-Lovely and In and Out, and Richard Burton and Rex Harrison in Staircase. Whew... at this rate it's almost easier to state which straight actors haven't played a gay role. Not really, but the numbers do keep going up.
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Post by romancejunkie on Oct 20, 2009 13:04:28 GMT -5
This thread has lapsed again but......call me old, jaded and bitter, but, why not gay actors playing straight roles. Or, perhaps more on point, why not gay actors playing gay roles. (An object in motion tends to stay in motion).
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rtgtx
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Post by rtgtx on Apr 3, 2010 23:40:41 GMT -5
Str8 actors who have played gay roles... Has anyone already mentioned these two great movies and their actors?
Maurice - Hugh Grant, James Wilby, Rupert Graves Total Eclipse - Leonardo DiCaprio, David Thewlis
All these actors seemed have not been hurt in their chance of getting straight romantic roles after playing their high-profiled gay roles.
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