When The Birdcage came out, Nathan Lane was terrified that his portrayal of Albert was going to out him. Even in the mid-90s (gods, I was strong then), being gay was a potentially career-limiting thing. He was having a bit of a panic attack in the green room before their Oprah appearance promoting the film, and he told Robin Williams that he was frightened. Robin calmed him down and told him not to worry.
In the course of the interview, Oprah openly asked Nathan if he was worried that his performance would make people think he was actually gay. Without giving Nathan a chance to answer, Robin jumped in and really camped it up. He went completely over the top, drew all the attention to himself, and the interview moved on.
Here’s Nathan talking about it.
I get it though. I would not have minded one bit of Robin had been gay. Riding from San Francisco to the north bay you get to drive through the Robin Williams Tunnel, with a rainbow painted on it.
I could do with a bit more of that kind of thing, speaking personally.
This is exactly what I would have done, and now I think… if I have something in common with Robin Williams, I must not be a monster after all.
My disappointment is immeasurable and my gay is ruined.
I’m not gay and I’m honestly intrigued to hear thoughts behind this gay disappointment.
Is it about the actor faking a thing? Is it about not wanting/being able/feeling stupid to fantasize about the character because the actor isn’t gay?
Probably the latter. It’s not like this isn’t common; you see the manufactured pop stars get told to keep their relationships quiet because it’ll drop their sales money/upset the fans.
Hopefully the latter. Thinking someone is attractive, I get, and being sad about it isn’t the kind of thing people can control.
Unfortunate that I even have to question the meaning, because there absolutely are people on other platforms who are quite loud about their belief that only a real actor who is X in real life should play a role about X. Which is…not entirely how acting works.
I didn’t want to think an idea so far left it became discriminatory would make its way to the fediverse so quickly, but I wish that chance was zero.
only a real actor who is X in real life should play a role about X
I personally don’t mind these kinds of aspects being or missing in an actor’s personality/characteristics.
If I don’t know what something looks like authentically, acting whatever while acting to be “it” seems good enough for me 😁 And if someone not being something acts authentically anyway, that’s good too!Exterior resemblance has a bigger impact on me.
An example: It feels a bit weird how Disney’s new mermaid movie has a different-colored main actress compared to the animation. I know it’s important to bring all kinds of people to the mix but…I kinda got used to what Ariel originally looks like.only a real actor who is X in real life should play a role about X. Which is…not entirely how acting works.
I just have to assume that these people never watch any fantasy or sci-fi, since it’s gotta be a real birch finding elves and aliens and centaurs and death robots and orcs and lizard people.
Like… it’s literally called acting. In a sense, their entire job is to lie (convincingly) about who they are.
Interesting!
Prob. About feeling represented.
Like black face for actors of color.
Even thought the chances of you ending up in bed with a famous actor are virtually null, they are not zero. But when you find out they are totally not gay, your dreams are shattered. That’s how horny minds work.
For me, I dont care, except when the character is an over exaggerated gay person.
cries in Cam from Modern Family
I found his character annoying as fuck tbh. Like a caricature of a gay man, which makes sense I guess that he’s not actually gay.
I am not the biggest Modern Family Fan, but from what I’ve seen he’s a lighthearted and fun character. I like that he embodies a few stereotypes but is not a shallow character either. It’s rather a play on stereotypes and expectations and I really like that aspect. And it’s not like there aren’t people who can identify with him.
It’s totally okay not to like some character, I just don’t agree with your reasons.
There’s prob a lot more to my dislike of his character than the over the top performance… And I guess it’s not the actors fault his character was written that way. Pushy, manipulative, controlling, bossy, these are all traits I keep away from when I meet someone who has them.
Quick question: Why did you feel the need to make such a negative comment?
I don’t know, just expressing how I felt. Are negative comments not allowed? As a member of lgbt community, am I not allowed to express my distaste for things that I feel are exploiting us?
I asked a single question. Knock off the ridiculous assumptions and acting like a victim. You aren’t one.
There are ways to express distaste with something without being so negative. Could have said it a thousand different ways but you decided to go with hostile negativity.
The fact you openly admit to not knowing why you’re resorting to such aggressively negative behavior is something you ought to check on.
