Gay star slams Hollywood attitude (Ian McKellen Whines That Hollywood is Gay Un-Friendly)

BBC News ^ | February 12

[rightwingintelligentsia]

It is still "very, very, very difficult" for homosexual US actors to be open about their sexuality, he said.

"The film industry is very old fashioned in California," he said at the Berlin Film Festival, where he received a lifetime achievement award.

The British star of The Lord of the Rings said Oscar-nominated cowboy love story Brokeback Mountain may open the door to more films about homosexuality.

But the industry still had rigid ideas about leading men, he told reporters.

"It is very, very, very difficult for an American actor who wants a film career to be open about his sexuality. And even more difficult for a woman if she's lesbian.

"It's very distressing to me that that should be the case.

[Salgak]

Actually, I hear he preferred Bilbo's rather rude cousin, Dildo Baggins. . .

(diving for cover)

[mthom]

Google it and you can get Singer talking about it himself. The easiest example would be the scene in 2 where (I think its) Iceman "comes out" to his parents about being a mutant. I didnt care to notice it until I read Singers comments myself. Side note. The non-actor Alex Burton who played pyro in X1 claims the part was written for him after a jacuzzi session with Singer.

[infidel29]

Dear Gandalf the Grey..er... pink,

Hollywood is interested in one thing above all else, making money. If homosexuals make up roughly 3% of the population, what makes you believe that 97% of the population wants to see a gay love story? The film will recieve a boat load of 'critical acclaim' but bupkis in ticket sales. If you would be so kind as to work for 3% of what other 'straight' actors are paid since gays ultimately appeal to 3% of the audience, maybe things would work out for you.

A homosexual actor will be typecast into small roles and will therefore never 'get the girl' unless he's Ellen, then well... the 'girl' she'd be getting wouldn't really be a girl would he... er... she...they? Hollywood is plenty friendly to homosexuals, the problem is you want the whole mile.

[Sensei Ern]

The British star of The Lord of the Rings said Oscar-nominated cowboy love story Brokeback Mountain may open the door

Would that be the BACKdoor?

[Fenris6]

Its more prevalent in the comics. In fact, its the central theme - people who are "different" being hated for it. The writers freely admit that its a metaphor for homophobia.

[Brett66]

LOL!

[Joe Boucher]

This is B.S., hollywood if all about sexual deviants. Perversion of Christian values is what hollywood lives for.
Fags, drug addicts, and cheating spuses are what hollywood is all about.

[new cruelty]

I collected comics for 10 years (albeit between 1986-1996). The gay-est thing I recall was seeing Captain America showering with Demolition Man. Sandman had gay characters, but the stories were not so much about their gay-ness. But back to your point about people of are different being the central theme and a metaphor for homophobia, the metaphor could just as easily been about racism, sexism, or xenophobia. That said, I think the theme for the Rawhide Kid is fairly obvious. : )

[PeteB570]

I like my favorite actors to be good, and then quiet.

When they make big stinks or try and bring their agendas into the films then I start to bring my views of them into the movie house. Then I no longer enjoy their movies.

Put Jane Fonda, Allan Alda, Ed Asner, Babs (BS) and any of many more and I'll pass on the movie.

[rbg81]

It is very, very, very difficult for an American actor who wants a film career to be open about his sexuality. And even more difficult for a woman if she's lesbian.

Yeah, Ian, its a real bummer to be in an Industry where you have to give the public what they want. Celebrities sometimes get so detached that they lose track of that.

[Dane]

JMO, mckellin's remarks that hollyweird isn't "gay" enough, is akin to a nazi in the 40's, saying that the nazis were exterminating to few Jews.

[mthom]

That would be news to the guys who created the Xmen. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Given that a large part of an actor's appeal is "sex appeal," it's very difficult for a heterosexual female, for example, to drool over a male star she knows would rather be "doing the bone dance with Mr. Sphicter" than romancing her. Hollywood executives still know that openly gay male leads are box office poison--it's not about the politics or the "issues" so much as the money.

[Puppage]

Hollyweird hypocritical? Who'd athought?

[Puppage]

It is still "very, very, very difficult" for homosexual US actors to be open about their sexuality, he said.

Come on now, Ian.Let's be realistic here. Do you really think an openly gay actor is going to play a romantic lead opposite Nicole Kidman?

[JoeSixPack1]

This senior citzen homo may lament his job opportunities, but his income is derived from a public not interested in his bedroom antics or his life partner choices, but by the scripted portrayal of the charactors he brings to life.

Why can't they just shut up and act?

[BruceysMom]

For a while I wasn't sure, then I saw his movie "Beyond the Sea" about Bobby Darin. Yeppers, queer as a three dollar bill.

[Sensei Ern]

In the 90's they tried a comic with a gay superhero. I stopped my collection just before that.