Eric McCormack On Straight Actors Playing Gay Roles

[hewontgo]

'Will & Grace' Star Eric McCormack On Straight Actors Playing Gay Roles: "I Didn't Become An Actor So That I Could Play An Actor" https://t.co/Dlt9h3EzaU
- Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) March 19, 2024
Eric McCormack identifies as heterosexual and played the role of a gay man on Will & Grace across 11 seasons, eight in its original run and three in

Comments

[bluntbitchqueen]

no

[hiimtish]

As long as a person playing a marginalized identity isn’t actually marginalized in that way it’s gonna be icky to me.

It can be straight people playing queer, cis people playing trans, non-disabled people playing disabled folks, etc…there’s always great actors that have that lived experience that could fill that role.

People that don’t identify in those ways are taking roles from historically oppressed people and I’ll never see that as allyship.

[thrysus]

'lived experience' is kind of nonsense when it comes to LGBT identity because we as the general public are not entitled to know people's sexualities. It's not up to us to decide whether someone has sufficient lived experience for a role.

The problem is also far wider than a matter of 'taking roles'-the issue is there are huge barriers to marginalised groups getting funding for or being involved in making some (most) types of art. Is the ideal situation one where gay people can only play gay roles? No? Then we need to set our sights higher than this discourse, which individualises systemic problems.

[hiimtish]

I do agree that no one should be calling out actors playing queer roles if someone isn’t out. I’m specifically talking about someone like Eric here, who knows he’s not queer.

It’s no one’s business until someone makes it our business like this. So I’m gonna judge.

[iznanassi]

yeah exactly, the fact that we cant trust people who know they arent the target to opt-out of spaces for marginalized people, theyre feeding into a system that makes marginalized people feel like they need to gatekeep their own spaces. and thats how you end up reinforcing harmful practices like "passing" and "outing".

i also think it's unfair because i really doubt this is something that works as easily the other way around. eric is right that gay people were playing straight, but that was at a time with societal circumstances that are radically different from what we are now. so how often really are gay/trans people playing straight/cis?

[automaticpeople]

I’m still pissed that they split up Vince and Will. I really liked them together.

He ended up with Matt Bomer in the show? Ugh. I bet his character wasn’t a cop who accidentally let a criminal get away, because he was busy trying on gloves.

[la_petite_singe]

"What is it with you and gloves?!"

[xdecadentx]

[Spoiler (click to open)]They didn't really end up together on screen, they had broken up but in the last episode he showed up and said he wanted Will back and it was implied they would end up together.

[automaticpeople]

That should’ve been Vince!

[thrysus]

honestly i agree with him. It's a question of nuance, obviously, because there are issues that can arise when gay stories are told / made by straight people-but these issues arise when any group makes fiction about another. Part of being a good creator (whether that's an actor, writer, director, etc.) involves learning about the world and portraying communities, perspectives, and challenges they may not have faced themselves. Of course it's valuable for LGBT people to make art about their own experiences!

But there are problems with that, too: people in marginalised groups can often feel like they have to lead 'identity-first' when creating art in order for it to gain any traction or clout. This can lead to the full range of their artistic voice feeling flattened or boxed-in (e.g. the 'burden of representation' Mercer talked about

[crzybtch1228]

And let's be clear, Jack was not openly gay when he got the role. Neither of those roles would have been given to openly gay men at that time. It was career suicide to be out.

[pretty_angel]

Yeah, the whole "only LGBT people should make LGBT art" thing got weaponised pretty much immediately. Lee Pace was a prominent example where the interviewer basically forced him out of the closet with exactly this idea. And it's bad enough that this happens to an adult with an established career who's pretty safe, but people are also going after kids like Kit Connor? Absolutely disgusting.

[slaughtermatic]

the shitshow that the guy in heartstopped had to go through as well! and people dont have to agree with me, but there used to be a stigma against straight men really not wanting to take on a gay role due to toxic masculinity and the 'ick' factor, i remember when brokeback mountain came out people were shellshocked that heath and jake would even act out scenes like theirs. and this has imo also been a positive development. i am no angry as a woman whos attracted to women that like, carol was made with what i think are straight actresses. i just dont mind. i mind that gay actors get overlooked for parts in general, but thats a problem i dont think can be solved by not allowing an actor to take on any role (no i don't mean whites playing poc or scarlett playing trees or whatever please don't at me)

[la_petite_singe]

I have a slightly weird 'rule' about this, which is that I don't really care if it's just a fictional character who's gay, like Will. As long as the writing's good and comes from an honest place (though of course it can be silly and exaggerated for a comedy), then idc who plays the role. I mean, assuming the actor's not a raging homophobe. Which would be weird.

BUT when it comes to real-life LGBTQ+ figures who actually impacted the community in a significant way, then I think it should be someone from that community. You know, like Harvey Milk or Billie Jean King. 👀 Or Bayard Rustin! Kinda meh movie, but perfect casting and an excellent performance. 🩷

[theladyflash]

Yeah this is how I feel about it too. Especially with someones sexuality not always being the publics business or everyone comfortable being out.(With the exception of trans, disabled characters should 100% be played by those who are.)