In a new interview, Kate Winslet reveals that she knows four closeted actors, all of whom refuse to come out for fear of damaging their careers.
“I cannot tell you the number of young actors I know — some well known, some starting out — who are terrified their sexuality will be revealed and that it will stand in the way of their being cast in straight roles,” the actress told The Sunday Times. “Now that’s f-cked up.”
“I can think of at least four actors absolutely hiding their sexuality,” Winslet added. “It’s painful because they fear being found out. And that’s what they say, ‘I don’t want to be found out.'”
Related: WATCH: Kate Winslet & Saoirse Ronan get steamy in ‘Ammonite’
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The actress went on to say that she knows a “well-known” actor who recently changed agents. His new agent pressured him to stay in the closet rather than come out as bisexual. Winslet also speculates that men face a much higher hurdle when it comes to coming out, as Hollywood clings to the attitude that queer men can’t play straight characters.
“That should be almost illegal,” Winslet insisted. “You would not believe how widespread it is. And it can’t just be distilled to the question about gay actors playing gay parts. Because actors, in some cases, are choosing not to come out for personal reasons. And it’s nobody’s business.”
“I don’t intend to browbeat or take on Hollywood,” Winslet said. “We’re just talking about young actors who might be considering joining this profession and finding a way to make it more open. For there to be less judgment, discrimination, and homophobia.”
Winslet’s remarks come at a sensitive time for LGBTQ actors in Hollywood. While some creators–notably Russell T. Davies, creator of It’s a Sin–have become more vocal in the need for Hollywood to only cast queer actors as queer characters, others including Neil Patrick Harris, Stanley Tucci, Viggo Mortensen and even Kate Winslet herself have criticized that attitude, insisting that sexuality should not play a role in qualifying an actor for a part. Winslet herself recently played a lesbian in the drama Ammonite. In the same interview, she also revealed she was the only actress considered for the part.
Donston
I don’t think this surprises anyone, and if you are surprised you’re incredibly naive or full of self-resentments. This idea that it’s 20-whatever and no one cares anymore, especially in the “Liberal entertainment industry”, is just nonsense. Agents, producers, casting directors, other actors and some “fans” very much still care, and they place certain pressures on people. At the end of the day, the entertainment industry, no matter how supposedly “progressive”, is still so much about money, image, branding, ego and scant opportunities. While even many out “queers” in the industry covertly promote/support the closet, internalized phobias, masculine pressures, gay shame, and “straight” superiority and worship. Guys who want to be legit “leading men” and get substantial roles in big productions know their chances are limited if they do not present a hetero image or present a very hetero-leaning image. That is especially the case if you’re dependent on sex appeal and dependent women wanting you and/or many “straight” men admiring you.
While if you’re gonna be an “out queer” make sure you don’t come off “gay” and don’t present yourself as too homo-leaning when it comes to the romantic, affection, sexual, emotional investment, commitment spectrum. And if you’re gonna embrace a “gay” identity and have unabashed same-sex commitments then make sure you’re “masculine presenting”. And if you’re gonna be “gay” and also “flamboyant” and “camp” then make sure you sell it and use that to market yourself and that you know those are gonna be the only roles you’ll have a chance at getting. It’s a mess on every level.
There will of course be a random exception here and there. And things are I supposed getting better in some ways. But the pressures to stay “closeted” and the pressures to officially “come out” and embrace whatever identity are both detrimental and problematic. Everyone needs to let everybody be themselves, live their truths and do them. But of course, that’s fairytale land shit, especially when Hollywood egos, productions and money are at stake.
JungleBoi
It would be nice if the gay standard included the full spectrum of masculinity – from jock to queen. There are exceedingly few representations of gays that are not stereotypical.
Donston
The “jock gay” is also a stereotype, in case you haven’t noticed. So is the “bro queer”. We’re all stereotypes in some way or another.
I’m a bit over the incessant whining about “masculine gays” not being represented. The majority of high-profile movies that feature “gay male” characters in them tend have them be “straight passing.” Over half of the out actors a in the industry are “masculine” or “straight-passing”.
The fact that there’s not any “out” top male athletes or out guys in the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, etc. is not the fault of “queens”. They shouldn’t be derided because of that. At a certain point the whining starts to come off like femme-phobia and like you’re ashamed to be associated with “queens”. That is perhaps why some stay closeted. But once again, that’s not any “queens” fault nor is it their problem. Furthermore, “queens” can also be “jocks”. That often is how it goes.
HankHarris
But I also think it is a certain level of Hollywood exec who are terrified about it, and don’t trust the audience. I honestly don’t think that most people going to movies or watching TV care. Of course the ultra-conservative, but not everyone. Its the same executives who tried to change the race of the lead character in Crazy Rich Asians, that questioned whether an all-Black film like Black Panther could be a hit. Executives don’t know all that much about what people want – they only can look at data of what worked or not in the past. Electra bombed? No way, don’t make Wonder Woman, it has a female lead! The audience is way smarter and open than they are.
Essie
I don’t think anyone, actor or not, should be forced or shamed into revealing their sexuality. It’s no one’s business and Ms. Winslet should keep her mouth shut. None of what she is saying is a revelation. Of course there are actors who want to keep their sexuality private, just as there are lawyers, doctors and truckers who prefer to remain silent. It’s something for them to decide, not the rest of the universe. People should stay out of other people’s private business. Of course my recommendation, if asked, would be to be your authentic self but it’s none of my business.
brian6767
Agree!!!
Den
It is more than just a decision to “keep one’s business private”. It is an externally imposed constraint that causes fear.
It is people denying themselves actions that are taken for granted, uncontroversial and common among heterosexuals (the most minor of PDAs between dates or partners, a picture of one’s loved one in the dressing room, carefully guarding what one says in casual conversation) out of fear for the availability of future roles or possible success.
It is a decision people should not have to make, and one that weighs heavily over time.
ShiningSex
Their fear is feeding the hate and igorance. That is shameful!!!!
Donston
Where did Winslet suggest people should be forced and shamed out of the “closet”? Did you even bother reading the quotes? She’s talking about the industry’s closet and hetero pressures. She’s talking about the actors she’s known who fear being “out” because of their image, ego and/or career repercussions. She’s not advocating forcing anyone to be publicly out.
I’m all about not trying to force people “out”. I’m all about promoting that people’s personal lives aren’t everyone’s business, that everyone has their own sexualities, motivations, struggles, journeys, and plaice in the gender, romantic, sexual, affection, emotional investment, commitment spectrum. And we should respect all of that. But you’re response is basic and dim-witted and barely had anything to do with what was said or the point she was trying to make.
Cam
The only people forcing or shaming anyone into doing anything are the industry people demanding that they stay closeted.
Your defense of the closet is exactly what bigots want.
Mack
A person should be hired based on their performance and acting ability, that’s why it’s called “acting”. Sexual orientation shouldn’t come into play.
Mister P
No one is speculating who these 4 are?
DuMaurier
No one is anywhere, from what I’ve seen. In my case, when I first read about this, I had a reflex reaction of “Who?!?”, then in the next second I went, “Meh. Who cares. I’m sure it’s no one I’ve ever heard of.” Thirty years ago everyone would’ve assumed she was talking about big stars we’d all know; now, everything’s so niche and media is so splintered that someone who’s adored over There is totally unknown over Here. I think it’s most likely no one is speculating because the chances of the answer being interesting is so low.
ShiningSex
Sorry but I think it’s shameful to stay in the closet. You’re lying to everyone around and making it seem like being gay should be a shameful thing. No sympathy for those actors.
Look at Ricky Martin, we all knew he was gay when he did that infamous and laughable Barbara Walters interview in which he outed himself without saying those words. Then when his career took a dive, THEN he came out. Who f*cking cares at that point?
I have more respect for those who are brave enough to stand up and say “I am here and if you don’t like it” F-OFF!!! Respect to those actors.
Tom Cruise, John Travolta will never come out. We all know, but they’re losers.
Kieran
Nobody has promoted the effeminate gay stereotype more than the Hollywood crowd.
Cam
The right wing troll account desperately trying to deflect off the topic of bigotry keeping people in the closet.
mailliw110
You are watching the wrong movies.
dhmonarch89
Kate says, ‘That should be illegal…’ Well- it is illegal. Long before the Supreme Court ruled last year on work place discrimination against LGBT community, California and New York had Non Discrimination laws that included LGBT people. Someone should sue the industry- studios, managers, agents, casting!!!!
storm45701
Ask Rupert Everett what happens to your career in Hollywood when you come out
nunya
No one should be forced or shamed into coming out. One’s sexuality and what one does with their genitals is their own business.
Cam
You tried this under your other name.
The only people shaming and forcing people to do anything are the executives in Hollywood forcing them to stay in the closet.
CityguyUSA
“queer men can’t play straight characters” Rock Hudson did it for years and no one had a clue.
Hdtex
We ALL had a clue.
Donston
Why are a few people trying to turn this into resentment towards effeminate/overtly “queer” males? That has nothing to do with her quotes. Just shows how much latent femme-phobia and camp resentment some of y’all contend with and how obsessed you are with promoting that resentment.
Winslet flat-out said that no one should be pressured to be “out” and that it’s a “personal choice”. So, why are some of y’all making this about forcing people out?
These comment sections never fail to be a hot mess where hardly anything intelligent is said, no matter the topic.
It’s funny how she mentioned that it’s “widespread” and presented it as if we’re supposed to be surprised that it’s “widespread”. Doing whatever for fame and opportunity, closet pressures, DL culture, internalized phobias, hetero relationships mostly driven by image and to come off as “straight” as possible- all of this has been a part of Hollywood culture since forever and will continue to be. That doesn’t even take into account someone’s own personal reasons for doing whatever, their family life, their dimensions and possible confusions or contradictions, their mental health. It’s a messy topic.