All things in good time, as they say. Although out actor Russell Tovey has a devoted legion of gay admirers due in no small part to his frequent nude scenes in the lamentedly gone British series Being Human, it’s surprising the 31-year-old is OK with being naked but not with playing a gay character.
That might change though. Tovey, who first came to attention in the award-winning gay-themed play The History Boys, says he’s not completely opposed to it. And he apparently considers himself a groundbreaker.
“Every character I play is straight, which is unique, my agent says, because it’s not really been done before that someone who is completely out is able to play straight roles,” Tovey tells The Independent. “So for me to play gay it has to be something special, because it might actually be more of a risk. So I’m waiting for that role – I want it to be something that moves things forward.”
BiL
This story would have been interesting if it were true. Russell has already played Gay roles. He played Gay in Ashes to Ashes and Annually Retentive.
vonlmo
Tovey is the UK’s Neil Patrick Harris. Everyone knoes he’s bent but no one cares & he’s made his career playing hetero roles. That said, it helps that he’s dorky looking & English where the whole entertainment industry is gay. Then again he is one of the most talented actors of his generation, straight or gay.
Russ has ‘conveniently’ forgotten that he did a cameo on a past Dr Who as a one-night-stand to John Barrowman’s Jack Harkness. memory hole
ted72
Great cute actor. Enough said…
afrolito
Never heard of him, but he sounds a bit self loathing. If he’s out, and everyone knows he’s gay, then how is it a risk to play gay? He’ll be waiting indefinitely for that ‘special role”.
Lefty
He’s certainly not self-loathing.
He’s played gay roles a few times and is notable for being out from very early in his career and being very open (and easily so) about it.
It’s odd that his management thinks playing gay now is potentially a risk to his image while at the same time he’s very open about being gay in interviews and so on…
Tackle
Love thoes ears…
Polaro
Works for me.
miagoodguy
He needs to do what he believes is best for his career and screw what others think of his choices.
Cam
He has been in some of the top British shows as well as movies and has been out for ages. He doesn’t need to play gay. He has proudly been out.
tazz602
Russell, Russell – not EVERY character you have played is straight. Did you forget Alonso on the Doctor Who Christmas special “Voyage of the Damned” and your reprisal of that role in the bar with Capt. Jack in “The End of Time, Pt 2”???
EdWoody
As others have already stated, Russell has played plenty of gay roles. So if he’s saying that he hasn’t, I can only assume that he’s talking about major leading gay roles, rather than the minor supporting roles he has played. All his lead roles have been straight.
Besides which, Queerty is as usual being completely unfair and misleading when they say he’s “not okay with playing gay roles.” He said nothing of the sort. He said he’s waiting for the right gay role, one that’s important and effective, rather than “random twink” or “gay best friend #3” as most gay roles are.
So those accusing Russell of being self loathing are just stupid enough to believe what Queerty tells them. Haven’t we learned better than that by now?
alexoloughlin
I think Russell is confusing himself with Rupert Everett who couldn’t get a straight film role and lost work for attacking Hollywood producers although he did play a straight role on Broadway opposite Angela Lansbury. Gay’s playing gay roles hasn’t exactly hindered openly gay Sir Ian McKellen, Simon Callow or Derek Jacobi from getting straight roles, at least not in the UK.
fagburn
Thanks for the reminder of something he said so long ago I’d forgotten about it.
JDW28207
Tovey may have also forgotten about his appearance in the music video Portrait of a Princess featuring a mildly bitter Snow White, who meets her Prince – Tovey. Sadly for Snow, the Prince has… other interests.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVcEXh1Nj2M&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Tovey doesn’t seem to have any inhibitions or qualms about playing gay, recognizing this is an over the top camp fest – he goes for it. Showing no fear that at some point his prince may actually burst into flames… possibly as a result of the skipping and cape waving.
Clearly, no fear. Great sense of humor to have participated in the video. Bravo.
tardis
Perhaps he’s talking about playing a gay character that’s outside the stereotype. He’s had small roles here and there that were gay, but most of the big characters he’s played, the ones that allowed him to be in longstanding with, were straight. I suppose I understand what he means.
Either way, I was wondering when Queerty was going to cover him. I like him.
chkar
Russell Tovey is so handsome.
Just a point. I wish he’d played the new Doctor Who.