There has been much ado about out gay actors playing straight these days, especially with recent Hollywood stars like Zach Quinto and Matt Bomer joining the roster of out actors. The argument being that once an actor has outed himself, audiences lose their ability to separate the orientation of the actor from that of his character. Neil Patrick Harris and Alan Cumming are examples who’ve avoided this fate. However, while there are those who feverishly argue if “coming out” is a career killer, the debate seems to overlook a potential niche where gay actors might succeed in regaining their “straight cred”: villains.
If flamboyant feminism is the staple stereotype, it only makes sense that the best way to escape that typecasting would be to find its opposite. What could be straighter than a blood-thirsty, cruel, killer? But, are we somehow equating homosexuality with villainy? No. It is important not to confuse gays as villains with villainous gays played by straight actors in films like Rebecca, Silence of the Lambs, and Cruisin.
While the ultimate goal of out actors is to once again wear the mantle of romantic heartthrob, what’s the harm in turning wicked to get your edge back first? It is clear that both critics and moviegoers love when funnymen go bad; see Monique in Precious, Dane Cook in Mr. Brooks, or Robin Williams and Tim Curry (who many don’t realize are not gay) in One Hour Photo and It. If “the sissy” is Tinsel Town’s go-to character for a laugh, maybe it’s time for the comedic sissies to show their malevolent side and scare Hollywood straight.
It is evident that audiences are ready for movie screens to go a little darker as evidenced by the recent rise of the reboot. Therefore, gay actors taking on roles as villains is the logical evolution of things. The shining example of this theory in action is Sir Ian McKellen. McKellen has scared away any thoughts of his sexuality by playing a variety of insidious personas from an unrepentant Nazi (Apt Pupil) to the war mongering Magneto (X-Men).
McKellan has expertly avoided the rut most out actors find themselves in by mixing sinister personas in with the loveable. But, if you think about it, it doesn’t take a great stretch of the imagination to apply this formula to other out actors. And, I’m not talking about Zachary Quinto in American Horror Story. I’m talking unflinching abhorrent evil. You can easily visualize how horrific it would be if Nathan Lane stepped onto the screen with the camp and humor ominously vacant from his expression. So, why not make the most of it? Let’s try casting Rupert Everett as a life-sucking ghoul, Chris Colfer as a manipulative sociopath, or Sean Hayes as a scrupulous mass murderer? There are far bleaker options than playing the bad guy.
But all this is speculative at best. There remains the possibility that McKellen and Patrick Harris are flukes; exceptions to the rule. But, the very real possibility remains that he is not. What isn’t conjecture is this: until a path to safety is cleared for closeted gay actors terrified of career suicide, Hollywood’s closet doors will remain securely locked.
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