Zachary Quinto: Queer actors are just as believable in straight roles

Zachary Quinto invokes a Hollywood stereotype that surrounds openly gay male actors.

The American Horror Story: NYC star said that in the decade since its release in 2011, there has been an “incredible explosion of visibility” for LGBTQ+ representation on screen, “particularly in the trans community.” , he told The Independent.

However, the Star Trek graduate explained that coming out can change the way casting directors and viewers see actors.

“There’s still a tremendous fear in our industry of particularly openly gay men,” Quinto said. “There’s this long-held and persistent belief that, on some level, being an openly gay man is inherently less masculine and being a straight character less believable.”

He continued, “There are still actors who believe their careers are better served by not acknowledging their authentic selves. That’s their prerogative, but I think we’re part of a movement that’s unstoppable.”

Quinto previously said in 2018 that many straight actors have portrayed gay characters on screen.

“You look at how many straight actors play gay roles and that door doesn’t swing the other way that often,” Quinto said on SiriusXM. “There are fewer gay actors playing straight roles. And there is something to that. You watch a movie like Call Me By Your Name, which is an incredible movie. The work of these straight actors was really great, but what if there had been gay actors in these roles? I do not know! Are these characters gay or are they just exploring? Who knows.”

Quinto added, “There’s a lot of controversy about people playing roles that actually match what they authentically are. It’s an interesting time, isn’t it? Part of the nature of being an actor is stepping outside of ourselves and having experiences that aren’t consistent with who we are. But the political climate and the race for equality have kind of shifted that notion and I think we have to be patient and see how things work out.”

Bridgerton actor Jonathan Bailey opened up earlier this year about feeling pressured by his peers to stay in the closet to get roles. “I figured to be happy I had to be straight,” Bailey said. “I got to a point where I was like, ‘Fuck it, I’d much rather hold my boyfriend’s hand in public or be able to post my own face picture on Tinder and not worry about it than one to get role. You bring in your life experiences [the work]. The most interesting thing is not necessarily having to talk about it What that is, and maintaining a sense of privacy.”

Registration: Stay up to date on the latest movie and TV news! Sign up for our email newsletter here.