[MB.]

perhaps Jodie Foster being one of the top female actors in her day, working far less nowadays and still being the first name that comes to mind when listing out gay actors is a sign that more lead roles in the film industry (gay or otherwise) should go to gay actors as priority

[Kizzy]

So would gay people not be able to take straight roles?... that's limiting :/

[user104658]

Originally Posted by MB.

I mean, in terms of A/B-list actors who've recently been cast in multiple prominent lead roles, I can think off the top of my head of Daniel Craig, Brad Pitt, Leonard DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, Tom Holland, Margot Robbie, Will Smith, Emily Blunt, Kevin Hart, Ryan Reynolds Robert Pattinson, John David Washington, Gal Gadot, Tom Hanks, Mahershala Ali, Benedict Cumberbatch... I could name many more but you wouldn't find a gay person among them

Originally Posted by MB.

then again, my definition of "Hollywood movie" isn't limited to just the Marvel cinematic universe

Pff. This guy setting himself up as Mr Hollywood Movies Expert when Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson hasn't even been in any Marvel films .

[UserSince2005]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

So would gay people not be able to take straight roles?... that's limiting :/

we play straight people every day to survive in this world

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by MB.

perhaps Jodie Foster being one of the top female actors in her day, working far less nowadays and still being the first name that comes to mind when listing out gay actors is a sign that more lead roles in the film industry (gay or otherwise) should go to gay actors as priority

I mean sexual preference really shouldn't have any bearing on whether you can play a lead (straight or gay) part because it's acting, you are supposed to be playing someone who isn't you but I do take your point that it probably does affect the choices that they make

[Oliver_W]

I think I heard somewhere that John Barrowman wasn't cast in Will & Grace because he "wasn't gay enough" so they went and hired a straight guy

[Kizzy]

I adore John Barrowman in another universe we're married with 4 kids....

[Amy Jade]

I know she's hated but Amber Heard is openly bisexual and was in a lesbian relationship with a woman when she was cast in Drive Angry in a main role and Justice Smith who was in Detective Pikachu and Jurassic World is queer and doing really well, he just had a leading role in a romantic movie playing a straight man.

[GoldHeart]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

I think I heard somewhere that John Barrowman wasn't cast in Will & Grace because he "wasn't gay enough" so they went and hired a straight guy

That's ridiculous, plus wasn't barrowman in Desperate housewives ? which was a big hit show back in the day

[Tom4784]

It's interesting that there's few LGBT a-listers in film, but then again I think LGBT tend to have a bigger place in TV, which is no bad thing these days.

[Braden]

Originally Posted by GoldHeart

That's ridiculous, plus wasn't barrowman in Desperate housewives ? which was a big hit show back in the day

Ironically, he played a straight character

[Beso]

Surely it's more of a challenge to "act gay" (sorry) if you ain't gay...so to gain the awards for best actor...oh wait..


Tom Hanks has done it already.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Just because he used to do ballet doesn't make him gay

I didn't know he did ballet, I don't know his life story.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

So would gay people not be able to take straight roles?... that's limiting :/

That would eliminate a hell of a lot of movies if we're including not-out gay actors.

[Kizzy]

I know that's why it's silly, since when did your sexuality affect your job? :/

OK. .I mean recently.

[Oliver_W]

Did I dream this or did Rose McGowan say she identifies as nonbinary?

Edit: no I remember, it's her girlfriend who identifies as nb. She's a model or something?

Originally Posted by Marsh.

I didn't know he did ballet, I don't know his life story.

I knew of him before Spidey, he was playing Billy Elliot when I saw it in London yeeeaaaars ago!

[GoldHeart]

Originally Posted by Braden

Ironically, he played a straight character

I never really watched it , but I remember seeing him in ads for it . I might watch it to see if it's any good.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by GoldHeart

I never really watched it , but I remember seeing him in ads for it . I might watch it to see if it's any good.

I wouldn't advise watching it for him, he's in about 3 episodes.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

It's interesting that there's few LGBT a-listers in film, but then again I think LGBT tend to have a bigger place in TV, which is no bad thing these days.

If anything the line has totally blurred at this point, many movie actors are open to doing TV, at the very least short run limited series.

I suspect because its seen as more "legitimate" acting and has much larger budgets (and thus... pay...) than it used to. I've always been a telly fan but its really quite recent that it became often "movie quality".

[Ammi]

...has Janelle Monae had recent movie casting..?...

[Ammi]

...Rupert Everett..?...

[Ammi]

...I do get your point though, MB...it’s a bit of a struggle to think of those names...

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...I do get your point though, MB...it’s a bit of a struggle to think of those names...

LGBTQ makes up somewhere between 5 and 10% of the US population and thus, demographically speaking, for every 5 big actors you can name who are LGBTQ you should be able to name 35 straight ones... Most people can name at least 10... Which would mean thinking of 70 straight Hollywood actors. Which I think would actually be quite difficult off the top of your head. Maybe that's an unpopular opinion . But there does seem to be occasionally an idea that representation means equality in numbers, which obviously is not the case, representation should mean an accurate reflection of real demographics.

[Oliver_W]

I don't really think there is a "right" amount of any demographics that should be in a movie, especially if we're talking on screen. But when it comes to "big" professional productions there is a wrong number - zero.

Production companies shouldn't feel the need to go out of their way to be diverse, but if they're hiring on a meritocracy and who's available , the diversity will come naturally. But if a production ends up being staffed entirely by straight whites, that's almost certainly deliberate.
(indie productions obviously shouldn't be held to the same standards)

Bit of a tangent, but it's relevant - bigger productions "need" to have big names in their cast, and LGBT people might not be readily available , especially if they don't want to out themselves.

[UserSince2005]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

LGBTQ makes up somewhere between 5 and 10% of the US population and thus, demographically speaking, for every 5 big actors you can name who are LGBTQ you should be able to name 35 straight ones... Most people can name at least 10... Which would mean thinking of 70 straight Hollywood actors. Which I think would actually be quite difficult off the top of your head. Maybe that's an unpopular opinion . But there does seem to be occasionally an idea that representation means equality in numbers, which obviously is not the case, representation should mean an accurate reflection of real demographics.

I can't name 1 gay hollywood actor? But i think i could turn a few of the straight ones