How Playing Gay Went From Career Killer to A-List Generator

MSN ^ | 10/10 | Maddy Mussen

[nickcarraway]

In 2009, Rupert Everett famously told The Observer that any actor planning to come out of the closet should promptly go back in. “It's not that advisable to be honest,” he said of his sexuality being public, “It's not very easy. And, honestly, I would not advise any actor necessarily, if he was really thinking of his career, to come out."

How would Everett feel now, then, when the pipeline for becoming a leading man in 2024 inevitably involves playing gay. In fact, it’s almost conditional on it. Bonus points if you’re in a Luca Guadagnino movie, or land a coveted Loewe ambassadorship to boot.

Timothée Chalamet, Paul Mescal, Josh O’Connor, Jacob Elordi, Barry Keoghan, Mike Faist, Ncuti Gatwa, Nicholas Galitzine, Kit Connor, need I name more? Sure, there are exceptions to the rule – your Theo James types, Glen Powell, your Harris Dickinsons – but it’s undeniable at this point that a queer role can act as a very real springboard for fame. It’s becoming true of actresses, too. Take the cast of Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott’s Bottoms, or Margaret Qualley kicking off her massive 2024 with lesbian crime comedy Drive Away Dolls, or Nicola Coughlan’s breakout role being Claire the wee lesbian in Derry Girls.

[dfwgator]

Who?

[Sirius Lee]

Faggotry is disgusting. The only folks who celebrate it are fags, cat ladies ( fag hags), and satanists.

[AbolishCSEU]

Tell that to a local trans (female to male no surgery) despite an engineering degree she remains unemployed after a layoff.

[Dr. Sivana]

Timothée Chalamet, Paul Mescal, Josh O’Connor, Jacob Elordi, Barry Keoghan, Mike Faist, Ncuti Gatwa, Nicholas Galitzine, Kit Connor, need I name more? Sure, there are exceptions to the rule – your Theo James types, Glen Powell, your Harris Dickinsons – but it’s undeniable at this point that a queer role can act as a very real springboard for fame.

I don't recognize a single one of those names. Then, I am not part of the target demographic.

[House Atreides]

I must be culturally deprived… I didn’t recognize the name of a single actor or movie (with the exception of ‘Derry Girls’ for which I must have seen a promotion) mentioned in the above.

[Responsibility2nd]

Timothée Chalamet, Paul Mescal, Josh O’Connor, Jacob Elordi, Barry Keoghan, Mike Faist, Ncuti Gatwa, Nicholas Galitzine, Kit Connor, need I name more?

Please do. I don't recognize a single name here. Nor do I want to.

[DesertRhino]

I am pleased that I do not recognize a single name in the story. Not the writer, not the person being quoted, not the actors or actresses. Not a single one.

[mykroar]

I only know Timothee, because he’s playing Paul in the Dune movies.

[HYPOCRACY]

Wonder why hollywood is a broke ghost town?

[ClearCase_guy]

Hollywood makes no attempt to be “inclusive” when it comes to age. Their actors and their movie plots appeal to 20-year-old woke losers. All other demographic groups can, apparently, go to hell.

[17th Miss Regt]

I think you are culturally deprived because you are not culturally depraved.

[Crusher138]

Ncuti Gatwa is the new Doctor Who.

He is playing the Doctor as flamboyantly gay. It is awful.

[mrmeyer]

THIS.

[FlingWingFlyer]

People in this country love movies about psychos.

[SmokingJoe]

What a load of nonsense!
Rock Hudson was gay and had a long, successful career at the top till he was killed by AIDS.

[JBW1949]

What the h*ll is this even doing on FR??????????????

[JBW1949]

What the h*ll is this even doing on FR??????????????

[JBW1949]

What the h*ll is this even doing on FR??????????????

[PeterPrinciple]

In 2009,

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Things are changing.........................