When Bradley Cooper was caught smooching Matt Bomer on the set of Maestro, the Netflix biopic about Leonard Bernstein, the photos once again ignited the buzz about straight actors playing gay roles. Should these parts go to actors who are gay, and face the criticism and professional discrimination of coming out publicly?
Social repression of sexual orientation and gender identity aside, there are many movies starring straight actors that have been beautifully made, and presented wonderful portrayals of queer characters. Here are 10 great examples of when straight actors played gay and the results were fantastic:
Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Both a love story about two men in the American West, and a stark tale about the horrors of homophobia in America, Brokeback Mountain was revolutionary when it was released in 2005. The movie earned $178 million in ticket sales and proved that a gay love story–that showed sexual intercourse between two men–could be a mainstream commercial success. Director Ang Lee won the Oscar for Best Director, and the movie was nominated for Best Picture, which resulted in quite a scandal when it didn’t win. Fun fact: in 2006, Heath Ledger was invited to present an award at the Oscars ceremony, but he refused because the opening monologue included a derogatory joke about the actors’ portrayal of having sex. “It’s not a joke to me,” he explained to co-star Gyllenhaal. “This is about love.”
Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo, and Wesley Snipes, To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar (1995)
Patrick Swayze was a major Hollywood star when he joined the cast of To Wong Foo as Vida Boheme, a drag queen with a delicate voice and a powerful punch. Vida, her bestie Noxeema Jackson (played by Wesley Snipes) and a young drag princess-in-training Chi Chi Rodriguez (played by John Leguizamo) set out on a road trip across the U.S. but get stranded in a dusty Texas town. And of course they change everybody’s lives through the powers of love and hairstyling. Wesley Snipes, in drag from beginning to end of this movie, is a revelation.
Meg Tilly and Gina Gershon, Bound (1996)
Theirs is not the most refined of Hollywood pedigrees: Meg Tilly is best known for voicing a murderous doll in the Chucky slasher series, and Gina Gershon will forever be worshiped for her camptastic role as Cristal Connors in Showgirls. But once upon a time, they were both absolutely delicious and exhilarating in the crime thriller Bound, playing two women who hook up, fall in love with each other, and then try to steal a lot of money from the Mafia. This movie is good old-fashioned edge-of-your-seat fantastic storytelling, and everyone looks gorgeous. Fun fact: Bound was the first major movie by The Wachowskis, the trans women who are most famous for making The Matrix series.
Timothée Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Call Me By Your Name has its problems. The on-screen relationship between schoolboy Elio, played by Timothée Chalamet, and the very adult Oliver, played by Armie Hammer, sometimes seems to be a bit predatory. And then there is the fact that Armie Hammer has revealed himself to be a creep in real-life. But Chalamet’s on-screen magnetism (and legendary jawline) rises above the awkwardness of the casting. He was christened the “Straight Prince of Twinks” by fans of the movie, a title that he has accepted graciously, and it is hard to imagine any other actor in this role. If you can watch the final, one-shot scene by the fireplace and you don’t experience an emotional breakdown of your own, you’re simply dead inside.
Mary Stuart Masterson and Mary Louise Parker, Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
In the original book Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, the characters Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison are two women in a romantic relationship, the entire town knows about it, and everybody just minds their own business. When Idgie is accused of murder, even the town’s pastor comes to her rescue. But when book was made into a movie, studio executives caved into social pressure about lesbians in mainstream movies, so the Idgie/Ruth relationship was sterilized to the point of making them just good friends. Fortunately, Mary Stuart Masterson (Idgie) and Mary Louise Parker (Ruth) crafted enough meaningful glances, breathless pauses, and lingering moments that conveyed the true nature of their connection. It passed the scrutiny of Hollywood censors, but anyone with a shred of gaydar–or even just an appreciation of seeing two people in love–was able to pick up on what was really going on.
Related: Tom Hanks explains why he wouldn’t play the gay role he played in “Philadelphia” today
Trevante Rhodes, Moonlight (2016)
Trevante Rhodes was a new actor when he was cast in Moonlight, a superb movie about a gay boy named Chiron who is tortured by bullies, and then tries to teach himself that he is worthy of love. Rhodes plays the lead character as an adult, and it all comes down to that scene in the diner, when Chiron comes face to face with the man who is the love of his life. Moonlight won the Oscar for Best Picture, and the entire movie is heartbreaking, breathtaking, and beautiful.
Terence Stamp, Guy Pearce, and Hugo Weaving, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert wins the award for best casting: Hugo Weaving (the actor who played Agent Smith in The Matrix, and also Elrond the Elf King in The Lord Of The Rings movies), Guy Pearce (the bad guy in Iron Man 3) and Terence Stamp (General Zod in the Christopher Reeve Superman movies!), star in Priscilla as three drag performers from the nightclub scene in Sydney, Australia, who are trying to drive across the Australian outback to get to a job and then their bus breaks down in the middle of nowhere. And of course hijinks ensue. (Was this the inspiration for To Wong Foo? Obviously.) All three actors are absolutely hilarious in this delightful movie, but the best performance was from Terence Stamp, as a transgender woman who serves as a mothering figure to her two friends. Stamp is a Broadway legend, a true artiste in the acting craft, and his performance is one of a very, very small group of cisgender actors who have played trans characters and gave a performance that is worthy of respect.
Sandra Oh, Under The Tuscan Sun (2003)
There is much to love about Under The Tuscan Sun. The cinematography is stunning. Diane Lane, playing the lead role of Frances, meets a hot Italian guy named Marcello, has cocktails with him on the beach, and then wears him out in bed all night. Then there is Sandra Oh, as Frances’ best friend Patti, a lesbian with a deadpan sense of humor who has a messy breakdown in Frances’ Tuscan villa after being jilted by her spouse. Sandra Oh is no stranger to queer roles; note her love affair with a psychotic lesbian in Killing Eve. And Sandra Oh is one of those actors who just makes everything better.
Robin Williams, The Birdcage (1996)
The Birdcage is based off of the French play La Cage Aux Folles, which was adapted into an excellent French movie and then a hit Broadway musical, and by the way the French film is available on various streaming services and is a must-see. But back to the U.S. version: Robin Williams stars as Armand, a gay man who owns a drag club in Miami Beach, and is perpetually exhausted by his high-maintenance longtime partner Albert (played by openly gay Nathan Lane). Williams gave a refreshingly understated performance in this movie, especially considering his usual cocaine-fueled antics, and playing Albert as a gentle, soft-spoken, and kind soul made the character more realistic and relatable. An honorable mention should also go to Hank Azaria, in the role of their housekeeper Agador, who is ridiculous and has an inexplicable accent and is also very funny.
Cate Blanchett, Carol (2015)
Cate Blanchett is fantastic in Carol. Cate Blanchett is iconic. Cate Blanchett can do whatever she wants.
Donston
At the end of the day sexuality and identities shouldn’t dictate who gets what roles. Also, no one really knows the sexual dimensions or experiences or journeys of any of these actors, their preferences, who they love or have loved, and where they are in the gender, sexual, affection, romantic, emotion, commitment spectrum.
Hardly anyone has claimed that “straight presenting” actors are incapable of giving good performances while playing “gay”/“queer” characters. Most of the focus is on the fact that almost no high-prestige/awards-baity “gay” roles go to “gay presenting” actors. There’s also a lot of calling out the industry’s casting bias, “straight”/non-homo superiority complexes, closet pressures, pressures on conventionally good-looking males in particular to maintain hetero appeal. This site is becoming really toxic and basic and hypocritical.
BLAKENOW
Whoever started this stupid ass movement about gay actors playing straight and straight actors playing games just knock it the EFF off ! it is a job just like anything else and no matter what your sexuality you are not to be discriminated against whatsoever. Seriously this is a joke, you even have Tom Hanks chiming in on this crap. A job is a job and ACTING is a JOB …..who started this crap talentless Billy Eichner?? Just knock it off. No Director ,actor, producer or studio should apologize whatsoever for hiring straight actors to play gay.
smittoons
No, Billy Eichner did not start it, his POV is all about how openly-gay actors still get stigmatized, hence Bros. It’s Billy Porter who made a big deal about it before that.
Just.my.opinion
smittoons, the world need to see and hear less Billy Porter. He is repulsive.
white-queer-african
@Just.my.opinion, agreed 1000%.
DMos
What, no Taron Egerton in Rocketman? Dude was robbed of an Oscar nom that he actually legit deserved.
smittoons
Absolutely. He won the friggin’ Golden Globe too! If Rami Malek could win in a schlocky tv-movie-ish biopic without properly singing, Egerton should have been nominated.
Donston
At least four-fifths of high-profile “gay roles” have been played by “straight presenting” or non unabashedly “queer” actors. So, what was this article trying to accomplish outside of spurring redundant conversation?
adamsandel
Thank you for acknowledging a lot of fine performances. Should “out” actors have more opportunities to play LGBT characters? Of course. Should straight actors be criticized for playing LGBT roles? Of course not.
But a few questions arise when considering the popular argument that only LGBT actors should play LGBT roles.
It helps everyone when public figures come out as LGBT – but do actors still have the right to keep their sexual orientation non-public? If so, should non-out actors be denied LGBT roles because they’re not out?
If only LGBT actors are allowed to play LGBT roles, should only straight actors be allowed to play straight roles? Or should actors be allowed to play characters of any sexual orientation? Most actors are eager to play a wide variety of roles – especially those that are different from who they are.
The history of fine performances by LGBT actors in straight roles, and straight actors in LGBT roles, should not be ignored when considering this argument – even as we encourage more opportunities for out LGBT actors.
Kangol2
The backdrop to this conversation, which Queerty frequently leaves out, can be found in the amazing documentary The Celluloid Closet (1995), based on the landmark book by the late Vito Russo. It’s an excellent exploration of the history of gay stereotypes and (mis-)representation by Hollywood, and charts the trajectory to the vastly improved state of affairs today.
In it, Tom Hanks among others breaks down his own homophobia in his youth and the decision to cast him in Philadelphia, which won him an Oscar and was a mainstream breakthrough, even though it has some serious faults in terms of how it depicts gay people.
For those who think this is a new or useless discussion, it really does connect to Hollywood’s long and often problematic historical depictions and casting of gay and trans roles. Linking to one of the points @adamsandel makes, one of the more fascinating aspects of The Celluloid Closet comes when it discusses publicly closeted gay and bi actors (Montgomery Clift, Sal Mineo, Marlon Brando, Rock Hudson, Laurence Olivier, etc.) playing roles that were coded as gay but which could not be openly so during these actors’ heydays in the 1950s and early 1960s.
LGBTQ actors should have every opportunity to play straight roles and vice versa. I do believe, however, that there should be some care when it comes to trans roles, given 1) Hollywood’s historically negative portrayals of trans people, especially trans women, usually played by straight actors, and 2) the newer generations of out trans actors, some of whom are very talented in their craft yet haven’t had opportunities to shine in the past. One very good example of this was Laverne Cox’s great performance in Inventing Anna.
GayEGO
Love is love and it was proven to me when I met my lifetime partner of 57 years, married 15 years, in 1962. Brokeback Mountain really caught my attention as I am originally from Idaho.
MISTERJETT
if they’re the best person for the job, why not? it’s called acting.
BLAKENOW
amen
monty clift
Brokeback Mountain made a point to say it wasn’t a gay film or about gay love. Call Me by Whatever and Birdcage are beyond cringe inducing, as are some of the others listed here as supposed good examples of “straights playing gay.” If anything this tragic list demonstrates that it’s not okay.
bachy
I sympathize with your contempt for Call Me By Your Name. My best friend and I saw it in the cinema when it came out, when everyone was buzzing about it. We both hated it. Why? I found the central relationship utterly unconvincing. The actors managed to simulate what i consider a straight, comparatively detached bromance – but they didn’t deliver on the poetic realm of the gay love affair.
That being said, the film has become so beloved that I think I should see it again. All the adulation has led me to question my initial impression!
[email protected]
What a shame you feel that way about a film that I feel changed my life. Seeing stirs something in me I can’t really explain-it’s such a perfect film to me. I’m honestly shocked when someone hates it. But this is just my opinion like yours-there’s room for all of them. But seriously watch it again……
lacrosse72
What about Greg Kinnear in As Good As It Gets?
Joshua333
Yeah but they’re straight so at the end of the day, I’m not interested.
[email protected]
Really? that’s quite shallow to me. Explain…
Jeffrey
The problem is far more nuances than a few actors were okay in their roles. Most queer actors are still being told to stay in the closet. The Hollywood machine puts them into fake romances and marriages so that they can appear to be straight.
Into that gap, Hollywood inserts straight men, who are rewarded for playing a gay man with awards and nominations. They’re called “brave.” which is insulting to those of us who live this life every day. The number of times this has happened is approaching 100. The number of out gay men winning best actor for a queer role is zero. There’s a ton of systemic homophobia in Hollywood, and it needs a major revamp.
Some of the actors play the roles okay. However many put stipulations in the contracts (Will Smith and Tom Hanks had a contractual agreement that they wouldn’t kiss a man.) Others won’t do any nudity in the roles. Some play up to the stereotypes, becoming super swishy. Others insult the community while taking these roles (like Matt Damon calling us “f*gs.) These examples are not the representation that we want — and deserve.
bigrawtop
Yes, for most of time we were so desperate for our stories to be told, so we accepted any telling by any actor. But now, we have a voice and can tell our own stories. Looking back we see how fame came to those telling our stories and we want some of that. The more gays get cast- the more A-list gay stars we have, the more they will get cast in straight roles.
Frankly, when gays tell gay stories, they are better told.
lykeitiz
I think some other honorable mentions should be:
Felicity Huffman / TransAmerica
Joseph Gordon-Levitt / Mysterious Skin
Hillary Swank / Boys Don’t Cry
Sean Penn / Milk
Ewan McGregor / Halston
Steve Carell / Little Miss Sunshine
Whoopi Goldberg / Boys On The Side
Hal Sparks / Queer As Folk
jasentylar
Boys Don’t Cry was a hot mess..Ms. Swank included.
lykeitiz
@jasentylar – Ms. Swank’s Oscar and Rotten Tomatoes 90% rating tend to disagree.
But you do you.