Winslet says that telling gay actors that they can’t play straight “should be almost illegal”.
Kate Winslet said she personally knows several gay actors in Hollywood who are afraid to come out publicly for fear that this will prevent them from being cast in heterosexual roles. Winslet was recently reported for playing a lesbian character in the novel “Ammonite”, opposite Saoirse Ronan, although none of the actors identify themselves as LGBTQ.
“I can’t say the number of young actors I know – some well-known, some beginning – who are afraid that their sexuality will be revealed and that it will prevent them from being cast in heterosexual roles”, Oscar- the winning actress told The Sunday Times. “Now it’s all fucked up.”
Winslet is back in the spotlight with his HBO miniseries, “Mare of Easttown”, as a detective in trouble in a small Pennsylvania town. She also said that she knows an “acquaintance” actor who just got a new agent, and that agent said to the client, “I understand that you are bisexual. I would not divulge that. “
Winslet added: “I can think of at least four actors hiding their sexuality absolutely. It is painful because they fear being discovered. And that’s what they say: ‘I don’t want to be discovered’ ”.
Winslet noted that it is more difficult for men to take on the role of Hollywood because there is a widespread belief among certain sectors of the industry that gay actors cannot play straight. She called it “dated crap”, adding: “This should be almost illegal. You wouldn’t believe how widespread this is. And it can’t just be distilled to the question of gay actors playing gay roles. Because the actors, in some cases, choose not to speak up for personal reasons. And it’s nobody’s business. “
Winslet said he is speaking out so that new, up-and-coming players in the industry can feel more secure about their careers. “I don’t intend to intimidate or face Hollywood,” she said. “We are just talking about young actors who may be considering joining this profession and finding a way to make it more open. So that there is less judgment, discrimination and homophobia. “
As for participating in a lesbian romance in “Ammonite”, Winslet said that she did not accept the role of an LGBTQ actor because it was only offered to her. “By participating in this role, I had the opportunity to bring an LGBTQ story to the living rooms,” she said.
“Mare of Easttown” premieres on HBO on April 18.
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