10 Straight Actors Who Refuse To Play Gay Roles (And 10 Who Don’t Mind)

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15. Won’t Do It: Luke Grimes

Luke Grimes made headlines for all the wrong reasons when he quit True Blood after only appearing in one season. He was set to be involved in a major storyline in the final season, but Grimes refused to be part of it as he disagreed with the creative direction of his character.

He was set to take on a bisexual role, involving him in a gay scene with one of the stars of the show. But Grimes refused to even kiss him. When things didn’t go his way, he left the show after continuous arguments with the writers.

As one would expect, Grimes was on the receiving end of criticism from all sides, including fans, co-stars, writers, and media. It didn’t exactly affect his career as he would go on to appear in some major films such as Fifty Shades of Grey and The Magnificent Seven.

14. Doesn’t Mind: Dwayne Johnson

For years, The Rock was the hottest thing in professional wrestling before he made his way into Hollywood to become the highest paid actor in the world as of 2016. In 2005, Johnson was still trying to establish himself as a legitimate actor when he took on the role of a gay bodyguard in the film Be Cool.

While several actors might have stayed away from taking on such a role, especially when you consider that he was a punchline throughout the movie, Johnson had no problem portraying the character, and it did wonders for him as he displayed a new range in his skillset.

In Johnson’s newest box office hit, he shared an underwater kiss with co-star Zac Efron that surely got plenty of fans to watch Baywatch. It’s safe to say The Rock would open to playing a gay character once again.

13. Won’t Do It: Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg has played some edgy roles in his career, mainly early on when he was establishing himself in Hollywood. Since then, he has taken on mostly safe roles that aren’t challenging at all. In 2005, he was offered to star in one that would’ve required him to actually display a new side, but he turned down a role in Brokeback Mountain, which would go on to make $178.1 million in the box office.

According to Wahlberg, he was creeped out by the script due to the aggressive content. It’s been reported that he simply didn’t want to play a gay role and was uncomfortable being in some of the explicit scenes. It really shouldn’t surprise anyone when you consider his homophobic comments from his younger days when he was running around and bullying everyone.

12. Doesn’t Mind: Jada Pinkett Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith‘s inclusion on this list shouldn’t surprise anyone who is familiar with her history. In 2008, she took on the role of a lesbian author in The Women, which was a commercial hit in the box office but not as well received by the critics. In an interview that followed the movie, Jada indicated her excitement upon seeing the script and cast, she didn’t hesitate for a moment and wanted to be apart of the film. Despite the movie having a low rating of 13% on Rotten Tomatoes, Jada was still proud of her involvement.

A few years earlier, Jada had shared a kiss with Monica Bellucci in Enter The Matrix and seeing as how she went on to take a lesbian role, it’s safe to assume that she would be open to doing so again in the future.

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