Guy Burnet a few gay fans playing sexually confused Craig Dean on British soap Hollyoaks. Now that he's no longer on the show, Burnet admits he wasn't entirely down being gay for pay.
The 24-year old tells Digital Spy:
The truth is that it was difficult to play. It was talked about for a long while and I felt uncomfortable with the idea because I didn't think it was justifiable. I thought 'how can you make a straight guy who's a bit of a cheeky chappy, loves the girls and has a sort of camp sense of humour, gay?'
…
Even towards the end, it was always difficult for me… You've got to remember that the room is full of people and it's not so much that which bothers you, but you're sitting there and – this isn't meant in a homophobic way – I just didn't feel comfortable doing it. It literally would be a silent set, we'd do it and hopefully it was one take and it was out of the way.
Burnet goes on to say, however, that he learned loads from the part and hopes the storyline helped set other "sexually confused" people straight - well, not straight, but…you know: helped them.
Remember this programme, Hollyoaks, is aimed at the pre-teen and young teen market, and is broadcast every week night at 6:30. And Craig (the bi-sexual character above) and his gay boyfriend are frequently seen naked in bed together holding each other, or kissing, or sleeping together.
The character Guy Burnet plays is a confused bi-sexual, Craig, confused because he can't make up his mind whether he wants his boyfriend or his girlfriend.
John Paul the gay character, is portrayed totally positively, as an ordinary teenager who just happens to be gay.
Hollyoaks is the most gay positive programme on British tv at the moment.
jean paul is way hotter anyway lol
The entire interview comes off slightly homophobic. This is why I can't stand it when straight actors get plum gay roles. As long as we have gay people in the entertainment business with a straight fetish, or straight people who don't really want to work with gay actors, it will continue.
Burnet can suck my left one. Now that he's off Hollyoaks, he's doing the PR-approved interview to remind his fans and the industry that he's not really "that way." Will he bitch and moan about how difficult and uncomfortable it is to play a ruthless murderer, corrupt politician, cheating husband or any of the other less-than-angelic roles he'll surely (and eagerly) take in the coming years?
Talk about protesting too much! Gay. Gay. GAY.
What's obnoxious is he doesn't complain about doing love scenes with the female actress who plays his girlfriend. So the entire interview comes down to, "Ooh, icky, I touched another man. Gross!"
And dizzyspins, "suck my left one," will be my catch phrase for the rest of the week. Thank you 8^)