Maybe this is a bad thing to say, but I have a hard time when people call actors brave. I don’t really get that, because our job is to read something on a page. When people are [called] brave in regards to playing LGBTQ people, that’s borderline offensive. I’m never going to be considered brave for playing a straight person, and nor should I be. It’s hard to say this, because the context of the film is so deeply tragic, but for me there was a deep sense of peace on set that I had not felt in a really long time, potentially since I was a teenager and first having these really beautiful, fortunate moments in films. There was something about being out, getting to play a gay character, and getting to play a woman who is so inspiring to me—it was such an amazing experience for me. Honestly, if I played gay characters for the rest of my career, I’d be thrilled. I wish I could, honestly!”
— Ellen Page, who stars as half of a lesbian couple opposite Julianne Moore in the upcoming fact-based drama Freeheld, speaking her mind in an interview with Time
Kristin Villareal
I think that is way past the border….and is just offensive
Raphael
Sometimes a simple “thank you” is enough Ellen.
Peter McKinney
She’s the expert now.
Carl McClanahan
I find it offensive to call her an actress.
People need to get a life and stop being offended by everything.
Cam
What’s brave is a gay actor coming out, or even a closet case like Jake Gylenhal playing gay is more brave than a straight actor playing gay.
Curty
Sure jake is a closet case?
onthemark
They’re called “brave” because there is still a perception that playing a gay character MIGHT be a career-killing move. Probably much less of a problem than it used to be, but that’s probably what she’s referring to.
Kangol
It’s beyond offensive. There’s nothing wrong with being gay or playing a gay, bi or trans character.
The problem is with the hom0phobes, not with gay people.
ScottOnEarth
Oh, shut up, Ellen Page. You’re in the closet until recently and now passing judgment and denying what “brave” can mean. Stick to reading other people’s words for a living. For the record, I never thought you were brave.
Lvng1Tor
@ScottOnEarth: She was very brave for coming out at about 26yrs of age when her career was on an upwards swing. She could have remained closeted and ensured that swing continued but chose to be an open and honest person. It could have killed her career. Case you know there are so many openly lesbian actresses out there…specially in their 20’s! She lives in the world she is talking about..she’s more expert on it than you I’d guess..since I’m pretty sure you aren’t a highly paid actor…and if you are then you are a f’n closet case.Which you probably are anyway since you have such disdain for anyone standing up for lgbt people. She never even calls herself brave only calls out the BS of how we treat straight actors for playing gay…like it’s more than just being payed to do what they do…act. This person should be celebrated, she makes a positive difference in the world, specially for young gay women. What have you done?
1EqualityUSA
Ellen Page, thank you for using your newly found voice to support the community.
jwtraveler
@ScottOnEarth: You need a laxative. If that doesn’t work, try an enema.
1EqualityUSA
…soon all your problems will be behind you.
Mark Jorge
I agree with her…
Morné Human
Clark35
Meh she’s an overrated “actress” and can’t act her way out of a paper bag. Plus she was extremely closeted until just recently.
darian
I see her being a powerful voice for LGBT people. Way to go Ellen.
AlliterationAddict
I don’t think that it’s offensive so much as a sad reflection of our society. In a sense, it is actually kind of brave for actors to take on LGBT roles, but it really shouldn’t be that way.
1EqualityUSA
Clark35, it’s time to clean your room…open the garage door and sweep it out into your mother’s driveway.
Clark35
@1EqualityUSA: That’s nice. I live on my own, and have for decades however I would not be surprised if you live in your mother’s garage.
DuMaurier
Of course no one says you’re “brave” for playing a straight character, for obvious reasons; there are no career challenges, possibility of backlash, losing fans, etc, for doing so. If playing “straight” and “gay” were exactly the same, with the same consequences or lack thereof, we never would have needed an LGBT equality movement.
Of course, it’s LESS brave doing it now than it would have been if, say, Paul Newman had played a gay character in 1965; but I don’t think we’ve QUITE arrived at Page’s sunshiny, everything’s wonderful, we all love each other vision of things. Getting closer, one hopes, but plenty of rocks still in the road from what I see.
jjose712
@DuMaurier: There’s absolutely nothing brave in playing a gay character now. NOTHING.
You receive a lot of attention (specially if it’s not the kind of character you usually play), and if your performance is good (and the film too) there’s a good chance you will be there for award season.
The only risk is the actor being stupid enough to come accross an homophobe on interviews (and there’s some cases but generally on tv not on films).
In the 80’s or even the 90’s it would be different, but now pretending to be brave for playing a gay character is beyond ridiculous (if the performance is brave it would be for other hurdles of the character but not for being homosexual).
The only ones who take a risk playing gay characters are closeted actors because they attract some kind of undesired questions about their private lifes (and we have several examples of that recently, ones dealing better with the questions than others)
jjose712
@onthemark: No, they calling it brave because there’s an argg factor in kissing another dude, or at least that’s what they think some interviewers.
It’s been decades since playing a gay character (in a decent film) could kill your career, unless of course you were an action film star
mlbumiller
Why would it be brave for a str8 actor/actress to play gay characters, but gay actors/actresses have be playing str8 since there has been a stage?
Captain Obvious
Wow bashing Ellen Page for saying something true and something many of us have been saying for a long time.
I guess if it was a hot guy who said it all of you bashing her would be swooning and talking about how you’d love him in bed. So pathetic.
Lesbians, transgender, non-white, fat, fem, etc all unwelcome in the “gay community”. When you kick everyone out is there really a community left?
enlightenone
@ScottOnEarth: Oh, STOP typing!
jwtraveler
An actor can play a priest, prostitute, president, alcoholic, Martin Luther King, Charles Manson, astronaut or alien invader and no one over 6 years old has any trouble separating fiction from reality. But as soon as an actor plays a gay character, the suspicion, speculation and gay-baiting begin. I really don’t understand it. I mean REALLY; I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT!
jjose712
@jwtraveler: And that’s exactly the reason why an straight actor has nothing to fear and why closeted ones generally avoid gay characters.
And to be fair, if you you are an actor and have some level of success there will be speculation about your life. In fact gay rumours generally means you are doing something right (and frankly there are other usual rumours in Hollywood that are way worse even if the gay rumours are false)
SonOfKings
@jjose712: I don’t think it’s that risky or requires that much bravery any longer for an actor to play a gay character. However, it does require nerves of steel for many rappers, singers, and athletes, who ALSO ACT, to play gay characters. So I think Ellen is jumping ahead of herself to be “offended” at the bravery label being associated with actors playing gay roles. Yes, we have come a long way, but we have not arrived.
jwtraveler
It takes more bravery to be a gay person, live an authentic life and be honest with yourself, your family and the world. Acting is just make-believe.