While the LGBTQ community has made great strides in recent years, there is still plenty of work to be done. As of today, many Hollywood stars including top draws refuse to play the role of a gay man. They are entitled to have their position, but it’s the reasoning they provided that boggles our minds. Some want to protect an image they have spent years building, while some are simply homophobic. Even in 2017, it takes courage for a straight actor to portray gay characters, as it could be career altering.
Not all fans are going to be necessarily receptive, and actors may even lose some of their following. On the other hand, there are other actors who don’t mind at all and have previously accepted such roles. It can be extremely beneficial as many actors gained critical acclaim for their performances, which in turn made them a hotter commodity for upcoming films. Many actors wanted to raise awareness about social issues that still exist to this day. When taking on that role, it certainly comes with responsibilities.
With this list, we don’t intend to put down the actors who choose to stay away from gay roles; they have the right to do as they wish and we all must respect it. We will simply list what they have previously said in regards to the topic and we will let the readers play judge. Find out the 10 actors who refuse to play gay roles and 10 others willing to accept them.
20. Doesn’t Mind: Charlize Thero
Charlize Theron is not one to shy away from playing gay roles, in fact, she has stated her desire in portraying them. Although she has admitted to experimenting with girls, the actress insists that she’s straight but that doesn’t stop her from switching teams for a character, as seen in her 2003 film Monster.
Theron portrayed a lesbian in the movie, and it certainly didn’t hurt her character as she went on to win an Academy Award for Best Actress, while the movie enjoyed plenty of success in the box office. Since then, she has portrayed a bisexual character in her newest film Atomic Bomb, which was only released 3 months ago. Unlike some names on this list, she’s completely comfortable with lesbian scenes and enjoys filming them.
19. Won’t Do It: Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson has had one of the lengthiest Hollywood careers, featuring in 172 films to this day. He’s involved in several projects every single year, and never goes missing from the big screen. Throughout his career, Jackson has portrayed just about every single role you could probably think of, with one exception.
During an interview with Playboy, he indicated that a gay character is probably the only role he wouldn’t accept as he wouldn’t want to crossdress or kiss another man. While the legendary actor has earned the right to pick and choose, it’s still disappointing to hear that comment from such an influential figure.
In 2016, he starred in Cell which is based on a novel that features a gay character, but that important detail didn’t translate over to the film, and now you know the reason behind the change.
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