Matthew Rhys has no qualms playing gay on Brothers & Sisters. In fact, the only down side, the Welshman tells The Advocate, comes when people find out he's not gay.
Dennis Hensley writes:
At a burger stand in the heart of West Hollywood, Calif., Matthew Rhys was straight-bashed. Sort of, anyway. "This huge, muscley guy came up to me and went 'gay power' and sort of punched me… Then the man went, "You're gay, right?" I went, "No, I'm not." he went, "You're not? Oh, I feel betrayed…"
Rhys also tells Hensley that playing gay has some unforeseen romantic advantages.
When you’re in a relationship with a girl, you go to set and you go, ‘I’m going to make out with [Sex and the City’s] Jason Lewis.’ And they go, ‘Oh, you lucky thing,’ and they feel totally secure about it. But if you go to set and you have to make out with a hot blond girl, then you have the argument.
And what of that kiss with Jason Lewis, who reportedly didn't dig the idea. "He was a consummate professional."
In addition to the Rhys piece, the next issue of The Advocate includes a handy guide to gay-friendly businesses and a chat with actor Bobby Cannavale, who played gay on Will & Grace and in The Night Listener. Like so many journalists before him, Brandon Voss asks the requisite "dude crush" question. Cannavale's response: Derek Jeter.
We have a feeling that could be arranged…
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It is so sad that we champion gay roles played by straight actors—straight actors who have to use phrases such as, “downside†to playing a gay role…. Shame on OUT for putting Rhys on their cover–and for Queerty for supporting a publication that tries so hard to be straight – blatantly communicating to the gay community that staying in the closet in Hollywood is more likely to land you a cover in a gay rag, than if you are true to yourself.
The joke is on us, guys! Great journalism OUT – great support of our community, Queerty.
SexintheCity: I think you mean Advocate not Out – although they are all the same "sinking" ship organization (and industry). I echo your sentiments. Thanks for the speaking up on behalf of gay actors!
His character on "Brothers and Sisters" is one of the most annoyingly self absorbed wankers ever. Thank God for Sally Field.
OH, thank Gawd for straight actors! What ever would we do, if it weren't for these brave souls playing gay characters? I mean, those roles might have to go to gay actors and that would be the end of the world, right? I mean, gay actors playing gay isn't real acting, right? We need straight people to show us what gay people are like.
PauR: You are SO right! Soon there will the Meisner Technique for being gay. And when that happens, I am sure Advocate and OUT will devote a cover to this challenging approach to real-life-acting-gay instruction. No more picking it up the 101's of being gay at your local gay-bar, floral shop or hair studio—someone will find a way to make $$$ off of teaching Gay Monologues, preparing for Gay Auditions and hiring a professional Gay Coach. You got Planet Out – or should we say, Planet"GOBACKIN"….
Will we fault T.R. Knight for playing straight on Grey's Anatomy, and explaining the "downside" is that he has to turn away so many women smitten with him? I hope not.
@SexintheCity: Meanwhile, it was Queerty's editor Andrew Belonsky who used the term "downside," not Rhys. Either way, you're reading too far into this. It's a silly anecdote. I kind of like that the character is a bit of a dick.
N.B.: And we don't necessarily "support" (or "not support") publications like The Advocate. But if they have an interview with someone who plays gay on a major network TV show? Yeah, we'll talk about it.
"Will we fault T.R. Knight for playing straight on Grey’s Anatomy, and explaining the 'downside' is that he has to turn away so many women smitten with him? I hope not."
Ask us that question again when–or if–that happens, David. Somehow, I don't see any out actors telling Oprah they just wanted to get the love scenes out of the way, so they could get onto the "important" part.
"And when that happens, I am sure Advocate and OUT will devote a cover to this challenging approach to real-life-acting-gay instruction."
That's pretty much guaranteed 8^)
I'm not gay, but I play one on TV — quel bizarre, no?
"His character on “Brothers and Sisters†is one of the most annoyingly self absorbed wankers ever. Thank God for Sally Field."
Sally Field's character is the most self-absorbed of them all. She berates her kids, her sibling, and total strangers into doing what she wants. At least Kevin is three-dimensional and gets to have shadings most gay men never do on TV.
I don't really see what's so awful about Matthew Rhys being on the cover of the Advocate. He's a straight actor, yes, but he's playing a popular and interesting gay character, and he's played gay quite a few times before. Should he be shunned because he's straight? Should the Advocate make Tammy Bruce or Phyllis Schlafly's son cover stars?
Oooh! Bobby Cannavale next! GREAT!
I happen to be a gay man and love his character. I happen to have a lot of accepting straight friends here in Omaha, NE and we watch the show together. He certainly is self-absorbed, and that is part of his character.
I like the idea of a straight guy playing a gay guy. First, it shows that a job is a job regardless of orientation on a sexual plateau, and second, it shows that someone that is heterosexual can support gay men despite thei orientation.
Matthew Rhys is NOT gay? BULLSHIT!! Whenever a man plays tonsil hockey with another man BOTH men are queer as three-dollar bills. Vile flth!!