Ricky Martin has opened up about the “disappointing” lack of acting offers coming his way, and he wonders if the issue is being gay and out.
The pop star and talented actor, whose most notable role came in 2018’s American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, came out in 2010.
His portrayal of Gianni Versace’s lover, model and fashion designer Antonio D’Amico, earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie that year. But apparently that recognition hasn’t been enough for quality offers to keep coming.
Related: Ricky Martin shares hardest part of filming ‘ACS’ and it wasn’t getting naked in front of 40 people
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Speaking candidly about his career, the 47-year-old star told People: “I love acting. I’m waiting for those scripts, for those great scripts. I can play gay, I can play straight, I can play a serial killer. I can play Latin, but I can also play European.
“I am ready. Just give it to me, man. Give it to me.
I don’t know if I’m not getting parts because I’m gay. But if that’s the case, it’s really sad. I’m going to keep working until life is different.”
Since coming out, Martin has appeared on Broadway once, in Evita, and as a judge on several international iterations of The Voice. In 2020, he appeared as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Also in 2020, he voiced Don Juan Diego, a sentient matador doll, in the popular animated Netflix holiday film, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey.
Last week, he also told People that he still feels “a little PTSD” from that time Barbara Walters tried outing him during an interview in 2000.
Don't forget to share:
MissTerri
Apparently restaurants and hotels are looking for workers. Good luck Ricky!!!!!
Cam
Nobody that the right wing troll hates worse than an out of the closet LGBTQ person.
MissTerri
@Cam
REEEEEE!!!
Jake123
Can you two honestly just quit it, grow up and ignore each other. Seriously every single article ends up the same way!!
Hdtex
Miss Terri will tongue clean your filthy sphincter for $2.50.
FACT.
Cam
@Jake123
You were exposed as another screename of the troll ages ago. But it’s nice to know you’re desperate to have people stop calling out your trolling.
But by all means, keep up with your “Both Sidesing” lol
Heywood Jablowme
“You were exposed as another screename of the troll…”
Queerty comments are searchable on Google. Anyone can look for a citation of Jake123 being “exposed” in such a fashion. Anyone can look… but they won’t succeed in finding one. Seems like yet another case of a certain person getting Jake123 mixed up with someone else, or simply making stuff up.
Jake123
Whatever Cam I’m going to follow my own advice and I’m just going to disengage. It’s not worth it.
Cam
@Heywood Jablowme
Funny how whenever there are right wing trolls you pop up to defend. Hmmmm
Heywood Jablowme
@Cam: Jake123 is not a right-wing commenter. If you ever Google his comments and bother to look at them, he posted about pop culture. You just got him mixed up with someone else as you often do.
Funny how you and Miss Terri are THE SAME PERSON and you appear together in almost every comment thread.
Funny how you must realize that the only way to prove anyone is using multiple accounts would be for Queerty to check IP addresses. But oh no, you wouldn’t want THAT because you’re doing it yourself.
Heywood Jablowme
QUEERTY, please ban Cam for his near-daily violations of the Queerty comment policy.
jaleoman
Is that possible that somebody can be more ignorant and stupid. Ricky Martin is a Latin music, king of Latin music and still very successful worldwide.
Jay002
Call Tyler Perry
Donston
Hiring publicly gay identifying/unabashedly “queer” dudes to do more than stand in the background is not something Tyler does. Maybe he’s turned over a new leaf with his reach-out programs and shouting out the “queers” at the Oscars. But unless Ricky is flat-out desperate for gigs Perry is probably not the route to go.
Cam
Somebody who just worked with Disney on a series said that Disney purposely removes LGBTQ characters or keeps them vague as a sellout to the Chinese ad Russian markets.
So it would be a shock if this is at least partially true.
Max
I think as a celebrity, he needs to realize that the demand for him can fluctuate and sometimes that can extend to very long periods of not being hired rather than short periods of being down in work.
he’s wealthy, he can create his own projects going forward if he wanted to instead of waiting for someone to call his agent.
ScottOnEarth
As Cam said, this is probably at least partially true. Ricky is a good actor and he’s gorgeous, so you’d think he would be cast in more roles. Show biz is a fickle, odd industry, so there are probably a lot of factors but it’s a waste not to have Ricky in more movies or tv shows.
ShiningSex
HE CREATED HIS OWN MESS. NOW HE HAS TO DEAL WITH IT.
BY MESS, I MEAN HIS JOKE OF AN INTERVIEW WITH BARBARA WALTERS. PEOPLE ONLY TUNED IN TO HEAR HIM COMING OUT (WE ALL KNEW HE WAS GAY). HE PUNKED OUT AND GOT LAUGHED AT.
Cam
@ShiningSex
That interview was years and years ago and since that time he’s won acting awards.
But, as usual the same old troll always has to attack out of the closet LGBTQ people and defend bigots.
Now quick, switch back to your @MissTerri name so you can post about how HilArious something is.
Your troll game is sad and tired.
Donston
Ricky is kinda “old news”. He’s still handsome (imo better looking than ever), but he’s also in his 40s. He transitioned to acting late in his career. And to American markets he’s still the “Livin’ La Vida Loca” dude. Those are probably bigger factors in him not getting work. The industry is fickle and difficult for everyone.
However, I can see how attaching to “gay” and being in a same-sex marriage has probably limited his opportunities. He was initially dependent on his looks and his sex appeal towards women. A lot of those women abandon you or at least are no longer as attracted to you once you attach to “gay”. Being “gay” and in a same-sex marriage also means he’s not gonna get hyper masculine roles in big productions for fear of him alienating “straight” guys. Yet, he doesn’t really have a huge “queer” following because he’s still very “masculine presenting” and honestly hasn’t gone out of his way to develop a more “queer brand” and to appeal to “gays”. While I don’t know if he can pull off “camp”.
So, he’s probably struggling to get acting gigs for a lot of reasons.
Jimmer
What do you mean “he doesn’t really have a huge “queer” following”? He has and is huge in the gay community.
Donston
If he had a “huge” following he probably wouldn’t be struggling to find work. He still gets press and still has fans all over the world or at least people who semi keep up with him. But he doesn’t have a very large following in the US in general. And most of his “gay following” are more invested in seeing him shirtless or nude than they are in his work. He also hasn’t really proven himself as an actor.
Mister P
He was on General Hospital when he was like 18. So he isn’t new to acting.
Donston
He’s had some brief strings in some soap operas and had a thankless role in a Ryan Murphy miniseries. He’s never been viewed as an “actor” though. I get his frustration. Him attaching to a “gay” identity and being in a same-sex marriage probably has something to do with him not getting any acting gigs. But let’s not pretend he’s ever had a “breakthrough” role or an established acting career.
ShiningSex
HE’S NOT WORKING BECAUSE HE MUSIC HAS SUCKED EVER SINCE HE REFUSED TO ANSWER BARBARA WALTERS AND OUR COMMUNITY FELT HE CHICKENED OUT. WE PRETTY SUCH SAID HE WAS GAY WITHOUT SAYING THE WORDS. HE WAS AN IDIOT WHO OUTED HIMSELF WITHOUT KNOWING IT. AFTER THAT MANY LOST INTEREST IN HIM. I KNOW I DID WHEN HE FIRST DID AN ENGLISH ALBUM. IT SUCKED. HE’S A BORE NOW.
Cam
All Caps,
My My My, out of the closet people sure seem to enrage the right wing troll.
Caine
Um. He’s not that good of an actor.
Doug
I agree. His role in the Versace series didn’t require a lot of range. He’s known as a singer, why is he expecting to be offered all these movie roles all of a sudden?
MissTerri
Tee Hee Hee! You are a Mean Girl!!!
Fahd
I thinks it’s unfair to make headline news of every little utterance of Ricky’s. I’m sure most every actor has wondered if they’re not getting parts because they are [insert demographic category here].
Still, I think that yes he probably hasn’t gotten offered some parts because he’s an out gay man (especially in the telenovela world) – think of how discriminated against Rupert Murdoch has felt. On the other hand,, how often does a role like Versace’s lover come along?
Maybe a new agent or financing his own projects or investing in someone else’s could be avenues to get himself out there in the public eye. A Las Vegas residency has worked for some artists.
Joseph1971
I don’t think his lack of new acting offers has any thing to do with his sexuality. Acting is one of the most competitive professions there is and the rate of rejection is high. He has an Emmy nomination on his resume, but so do a lot of other handsome, well built men in their 40s. There are only so many roles to go around. Why not try working in a day time drama, or take a small supporting role in an independent production. It may not be the kind of money he is used to making , but if he wants to continue to act he may have to lower his expectations as to what roles he will be offered.
Cam
Always tons of people willing to excuse away bigotry.
Martin has a huge Latino following and an Emmy nomination. Seems like he would at least be asked to audition.
But as a recent director for Disney pointed out, they actively screen out LGBTQ characters and actors because they want to sell in Russia and China.
Essie
Maybe Ricky should create opportunities for himself. That’s what Daniel Levy* did. He worked for years at MTV Canada and then left for Hollywood . . . where he found zero work. Then he created his own series, which became a hit and made him a star. If Ricky really wants to act then he should think about doing something like that. Of course, Daniel has talent in writing, directing and acting which Ricky lacks but, he is still fairly good looking, though a bit old at almost 50. Complaining to the press won’t help him get work. In fact, people with the means to give him work will only shrug and keep silent. Nobody likes a complainer.
*(Of course Daniel had his Daddy to help him and Catherine O’Hara as co-star, but still, Schitt’s Creek is genius TV.)
Troyfight
@Essie wow, the best and most interesting response on here. Ricky would’ve been be great in those John Wick films, compared to the totally-blank, almost a decade older (gasp), Keanu Reeves.
SFMike
He has to just face the fact he’s turning 50 and not the fresh young thing Hollywood is always looking for. Show business is tough.
AZ71
You’re a fine actor…but your talent has always been music and stage performance. Stick to what made your mark in the industry. Thats how you rebuild your brand.
JRamonMc
Why isn’t he producing new music? That’s what got him where he is today and what he’s best known for.
dhmonarch89
he gave himself away- he’s waiting for scripts- MOST people today in film have to go out and FIND work, he has money- he could invest in some projects, instead of spending $100,000 on surrogates for his next designer child- put it in a film, series, etc. and get to work.
stan2015
He is just over. His time has come and now gone. AS a gay man seeing him with George Bush’s inauguration just when i was no longer a fan. He now now blames Barbara Walters for things but 10 years ago he came out and some time later he was on “The View” and Barbara apologized to him and he said “He was never mad” or something like that. He now needs a job and brings up Barbara Walters just to get press. If he wanted to stay relevant he knows he needed to release a CD every years or 2.
judysdad
Being gay and in a same sex marriage hasn’t seemed to have affected Matt Bomer. Or Neil Patrick Harris. Or Luke Evans.
But I agree with others: Ricky is primarily thought of as a singer, not an actor.
Donston
Actually, it has affected them. Matt Bomer was set up to be as “A lister”. He was rumored to many high-profile roles. Once he revealed that he was “gay” and in a same-sex marriage he had a very difficult time getting leading roles in mainstream projects. Luke Evans is also still mostly getting supporting roles. And he was also something me who had a lot of buzz and seemed set up to be an “action star”. Neil Patrick Harris hasn’t done much after How I Met Your Mother, which was a gig he got before being “out”. He’s still well liked and remembered for that role. So, I can imagine him still being able to get some sitcoms
The fact that they can still find some work doesn’t mean those actors’ careers weren’t affected. People really need to stop mentioning those three guys when talking about how being a “gay” male doesn’t affect your acting career. Those are the three best examples? None of those dudes are A-listers, and none have gotten top tier roles.
Cam
Except none of them have landed major series or lead actor roles since.
nm4047
Patrick Harris is making more of a name with his singing and performing skills (when they are back on) with broadway. Granted many of them a tried and test shows that don’t give him any avenue to put his stamp on them. Plus there are numerous one hit wonder TV performers that when the show finish it life, struggle to be cast for the reason they were in a well known TV show, (type casting).
Cam
@nm4047
Harris is on Broadway which has always been more open to LGBTQ actors. He lead a TV series for nearly a decade and hasn’t gotten anything like that since.
What was Matt Bomer’s typecasting? Handsome leading man type? Yet he hasn’t lead a series or major movie since, and he was being primed to go that direction.
And as a recent director for Disney pointed out, they were purposely screening out obvious LGBTQ content so their films would sell in Russia and China.
This isn’t hard to figure out.
Kangol2
I think it’s a combo of factors, including the fact that Hollywood doesn’t know what to do with him–do they cast him in singing or nonsinging roles, straight or gay roles, White or Latinx roles, or both to all–as well as his age, the gaps in his acting resume, etc. As others are saying, he might benefit from creating opportunities for himself rather than waiting for scripts. There are tons of great novels and nonfiction books he could adapt, the Spanish-speaking market, like the English-language one, is huge, and Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. might offer him opportunities Hollywood couldn’t even imagine. They’re still heavily stuck in the last century, whether you’re talking about mainstream films or legacy TV. Do your own thing, Ricky!
Donston
I do agree that nowadays you need to take the initiative and take control of your career if you can. Hollywood is not suddenly about to start giving substaial roles to the “Livin La Vida Loca” dude who is in his 40 and in a gay marriage. He still has a known enough name and is well liked enough. He could certainly get backing for potential projects.
Heywood Jablowme
Best comment here, Kangol2, thank you!
Kangol2
Thanks, Heywood & Donston, so right!
decampbell
He’s probably not getting acting jobs because he can’t act. Let’s face facts..he can’t. Fantastic singer, but couldn’t act his way out of wet paper bag with a machete.
jackscott
He’s a fine singer, however, he isn’t that great of an actor. Maybe he needs to look for more musical roles to suit his talent. Then again… porn is acting, maybe he should just call a few studios up and go in for a casting 🙂
Jake123
@Heywood I’m right wing because I dared criticise Joe Biden and Kamala Harris last year when it was announced that she would be his Vp. I said I didn’t realise American politics was so two faced due to her calling him a racist months before. A pretty benign and fair take I would say. Plus I said I really liked Bernie even though I’m Irish but obviously I can’t have an opinion in an American election. Look what can you do, right now I live in Vienna a country with actual left wing values. Free healthcare, basically free transport and a lack of police randomly killing black and brown people.
Heywood Jablowme
That’s an inevitable situation with VP nominees especially if the VP ran for president in the primaries against the eventual winner. There will always be a few quotes that are jarring later. As for “two-faced,” see the vociferous denunciations of Trump by leading Republicans in early 2016: Lindsay Graham (who also ran in the primaries) said “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed … and we will deserve it.” There are dozens of quotes like that on the R side if you look for them, but only a couple with Harris & Biden.
Cam is very likely a (paid) right-wing troll himself, directed to establish his phony “credentials” as an arch-lefty here in order to make the left look bad. Obviously he is Miss Terri as well as several of his other imaginary friends.
Jake123
Yeah it definitely wasn’t an endorsement of anything Republican that’s gross. It was just a thread about democrats so I commented on that. After that I try to avoid anything political cause it’s just not worth it. The bad thing is I agree with Cam 90% of the time. I actually looked up my comments like you said and funnily enough the first one is me defending Cam from someone telling him to hurt himself.
Deandre00
What I really think it is it’s just when you think Ricky Martin you don’t think actor. A lot of gay actors are working. He just needs a role that has a higher profile. Like a lead in a movie or show not a supporting one.
Heywood Jablowme
Ricky Martin might be a good guest host on “Jeopardy!” That would attract some favorable attention, since he is half-forgotten by the general public. And he probably wouldn’t be worse at it than Anderson Cooper was. (I bring up AC simply bc he’s gay; of course there have been others who were bad at it!)
cuteguy
As an actor you have to pay your dues. And let’s face it, he’s not that talented as an actor. It’s too simple to play the gay card. I understand back in the La Vida Loca days he was afraid he would lose his career. But today it’s way different. You need talent and a little luck to win those coveted roles. Whining about being gay won’t do him any good.
Polaro
I think he just needs a better agent. Homophobia isn’t what it was, especially with the 10,000 (slight exaggeration) streaming channels needing content.
mailliw110
I just amazed at all the professional “actors” commenting on here!
cuteguy
Along with the professional “correspondents” commenting on here
jaleoman
There is a lot of homophobia in Hollywood unfortunately Ricky state a fact. There is also a lot of racism as well too. We still even having straight actors playing gay roles but not gay actors playing straight. Ricky Martin is one of the most successful Latin artist in history, he is like the king of Latin music. I am glad he is speaking up about the homophobia in Hollywood