Actor Wentworth Miller has spoken further about the importance of gay representation on screen. Two weeks ago, Miller – who came out as gay in 2013 – took to Instagram to inform fans that he had no plans to return for a mooted sixth season of Prison Break, saying he only wished to play gay characters from now on.
Yesterday, Miller posted an Instagram video of himself kissing the actor Russell Tovey. The two men played love interests Leo Snart/Captain Cold and Ray Tyrrell on the DC show, The Flash, in 2017.
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In the accompanying caption, Miller spoke about the power of having two gay actors to play gay superheroes and kiss on screen. He also went on to highlight one of the benefits of casting a gay actor.
Related: Russell Tovey and Wentworth Miller share passionate kiss
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“Leo. The powers-that-be willed him into existence and I was grateful. He didn’t have to be gay but the writers wrote that shit. So we got 2 gay actors playing 2 gay superheroes kissing onscreen… Felt like a moment.
He went on to say that when he read the script, he felt it needed tweaking.
“Where Leo tells Mick and Sara he’s marrying Ray, his original line was like, ‘I just want something normal…’ Gays. Just like us. Except me? I’m not getting married. I didn’t want Leo framing marriage as ‘normal’ for folks (kids) watching. It’s not. It’s homonormative. A ton of queer folks are living full/content lives outside the marriage construct. That line became, ‘I’m looking for a new kind of adventure’ (or some such).”
Miller went on to ask, “Would a straight actor playing Leo push for that change? Have that conversation with the (straight) writers and (straight) director? Maybe. I did bec I had to. It reflects my lived experience. I’m having those conversations 24-7. Not just on set.
“I should note I had the weight – and will – to push for rewrites. Not every actor does. #privilege.”
He says he also questioned another part of the script.
“Last tweak: The sc where Leo and Ray argue while Ray changes. The first draft called for me to ‘blush and turn away’ at the sight of a shirtless Ray. Hello. They’re lovers. Pretty sure it was the person who wrote that sc who wanted to blush and turn away.”
A day earlier, Miller also returned to the issue of him not rejoining Prison Break. Since his first announcement a couple of weeks ago, some fans have speculated that the show’s creators might tempt him back by making his character, Michael Schofield, gay.
Related: Wentworth Miller quits Prison Break, doesn’t “want to play straight characters”
Miller appeared to pour cold water on this idea. He also dismissed further speculation that Scofield might enter into any sort of relationship with the character T-Bag, who is shown having sex with men in prison but is also a racist, pedophile, murderer, and rapist. Millers suggests T-Bag should not be considered gay representation.
“Forgive me,” said Miller on Instagram. “I need to put my finger on something. In and around the ‘reveal’ I’m gay IRL, don’t wish to play straight parts etc., I saw dozens of comments suggesting Michael leave Sara for T-bag. Or that T-bag will be ‘looking’ for Michael/me.
“Is it possible, to some folks, T-Bag = “gay” rep on PB? Maybe the ONLY rep on TV in their part of the world? Forget the homophobes + zealots (bec fuck them) – for the queer kids, the queer adults who will never come out bec coming out = death in their part of the world… is T-bag the best they can expect?”
He went on to say that Hollywood sends out messages to viewers, whether intentional or not, which is why he believes so strongly about bringing authentic LGBTQ representation to the screen.
“Stories matter. Balanced, responsible storytelling matters. You never know who’s watching. Or where.”
Daniel M
It was a great post. His instagram is smart and doesn’t center HIM but centers things he’s interested in.
MacAdvisor
I am sorry, I must disagree. The entire point of acting is to be someone you are not. I believe actors can play any part, men can play women, women can play men, gays can play straights, straights can play gays, Black can play whites, etc. It is all in the performance. Philip Seymour Hoffman was 5’10” and play Truman Capote, who was 5’3″. That is the job of actors, to be something they aren’t.
GorgeousNotGeorge
You are missing the point he is making. He is saying a person experiencing the moment, the scene would have better input on the character than some heterosexual writer, thinking how a homosexual man feels or thinks. Gay people can play straight as well as gay people can play gay. Sure it’s the crux of any acting job to perform and be the person you are portraying like most great actors do. However, no one ever said only British people can play Margaret Thatcher. The difference is in the smaller stories about non-historical or well known figures. We need to see the lives of people through the actors that portray them. Science Fiction is better at doing this in their stories because there are no limits. Hallmark and Lifetime shlocky Xmas movies are doing this because they know their market.
Donston
He definitely makes quite a few points here. And I appreciate that he’s not just paying lip service. Representation does matter. Seeing two actors who unabashedly have same-sex passions, affections, relationships given the opportunity to portray that in a quality production is important. While Hollywood very much still plays it stale and safe when it comes to “queer stories”. How many coming out stories and “first time I fall for someone of my sex” stories between “straight passing” people do we need? Also, the industry at large still pushes people to be closeted and still feeds into internalized homophobia and gay shame, especially on young male actors who depend their looks. On the other hand, it is acting at the end of the day. While you really don’t know the dimensions of anyone’s orientation. All you know is what they present. And fluidity, experimentation, paraphiliacs, identity politics, sociology and the gender, romantic, sexual, emotional investment, commitment spectrum- these things make identity, sexuality and orientation a more complicated discussion.
Like most topics that lead to discourse, there is nuance here. Too many people look at these types of topics with absolutely no nuance (and I’m sure many of the comments will reflect that lack of nuance). But I do appreciate that Wentworth can see beyond himself and his goals and recognize some of the industry’s issues.
The real Bruce
Donston, this is about the best, honest and “real” posts I’ve seen from you. I agree with you on so many points. It makes me wonder if you are in the “business”. Cheers.
Godabed
I still don’t care for Russell Tovey, I don’t care how many gay roles he plays. Has he actually made amends for being problematic toxic masc 4 masc personality… not that I’ve seen.
Dymension
Oh, that toxic masculinity bullshit is tired. He is a masculine guy who likes masculine guys. What if I only like fem guys, what if I….oh, never mind. You just won’t get it. It’s just tired people who don’t feel loved who are threatened by someone expressing what they want.
WSnyder
Wentworth made some great points about LGBQ+ people having perspectives on characters and stories that Str8 people *might* not. But…IF a LGBTQ+ writer or director or producer can work with a Str8 actor playing a LGBTQ+ character or a LGBTQ+ story, that *may* work as well. Movies/TV [even Theatre] has always been about ‘pretend’ and the quality of that has always been influenced by the people involved, the actors, writers, directors, etc.
I think it would be problematic for a Str8 writer, a Str8 Director, Str8 Actor(s) and a Str8 Producer to do justice properly to a LGBTQ+ centric Character(s) and/or Story. There’s no gravitas to carry it, so Wentworth’s point is valid there. There are however, many quality Str8 actors who can play a LGBTQ+ characters and do them justice is certain circumstances. We’ve all seen, often without realizing it, actors playing parts that could be called miscasting except they carried the part brilliantly and beyond expectations.
So while Wentworth’s post is valid, I don’t agree that Str8 actors should ‘never’ play LGBTQ+ ones and it should exclusively be LGBTQ+ actors. The success of such is so dependent on other variables that it should never be a strict policy BUT simply a strong consideration.
Josh447
I agree. My motto is if you can deliver the performance goods (I. E. Brokeback Mtn), I really don’t need to review a variety of notches on your personal bedpost.
The real Bruce
I agree with you and Josh447. I think one of the best examples of straight playing gay is the original “Boys In The Band”. Some of the actors were gay and some were not. But the feelings they put into their characters made you think they were gay, like Hank and Larry. Also Emory. And “Call Me By Your Name” was another example.
Liquid Silver
I think somebody misses the point of the word and idea of “acting.”
Next time we perform “Rear Window,” we’ll actually have to break a leg.
Donston
Prime example of someone who doesn’t approach any topic with nuance and mostly prefers the bitchy and dismissive approach rather than the earnest one.
Liquid Silver
Meanwhile, you again pretend to have nuance. No thanks, it’s pretty transparent. I don’t need to play gatemaster (gaytemaster?) with my actors to see they’re good actors, nor hold up a color card to gateway them through the role.
Either they’re believable or they are not.
Nothing else matters, contrary to the typical smoke and mirrors attempt at “depth” from the typical sources.
Dymension
I agree. If there is a part for someone who’s been raped, do we need to find an actor who has actually lived that? If they are playing someone dying of cancer, should we find an actor actually dying of cancer? As Sir Lawrence Olivier once said when Dustin Hoffman showed up one morning to the set having spent an evening in a drunken stupor to prepare for the shoot in the morning, “couldn’t you have just acted it?”
jackscott
I agree. Plus, Wentworth is such a sexy guy… I need more of him!
jonasalden
hang on. i don’t see why he should only play gay characters. isn’t acting by its very nature portraying something/someone you actually are not (at least not on the face of it)? noble, but misguided. just act. if you’re good, people will believe your performance, regardless of who you REALLY are, sexual orientation included.