I don't see what all the fuss is about playing gay characters. When I did Y Tu Mama Tambien, I was asked, 'Don't you worry about what people will say to you in the street?' It seemed like it was such a huge deal. Why would it be an issue for me? I think it is a very American thing. In Mexico, no one has given me any s**t for playing gay roles, for playing a transvestite, whatever. They don't confuse the actor with the role. I mean, they don't think Al Pacino's a cop!"

That's awesome actor Gael Garcia Bernal talking. Man, he certainly has balls! Many young actors nowadays would rather keep mum or ignore offers to play gay, and why shouldn't they? Aside from the hungry press that can put the "bad news" within minutes, it could ruin their careers permanently. But we're talking Hollywood of course.

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European actors certainly have different outlook. As you might have noticed, even the young Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is interested in playing drag. Can he pull it off? Also, if you noticed, in Little Ashes, the upcoming movie starring Radcliffe's co-star, Robert Pattinson is also playing gay. It seems the British threw away their so-called "traditional values" long before we even thought about it. But is this a new phenomenon? Are actors from the other side of the Atlantic more open and ready to take on controversial roles including dressing up in women's clothes and exposing their feminine side? I think not. French and German actors have been doing the same thing...

Best Gay Roles Ever. Let's look back at some of the most acclaimed gay roles in cinema. But let me mention names first: Daniel Day-Lewis, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks, Johnny Depp, Hugh Grant, Heath Ledger, River Phoenix, Gael Garcia-Bernal, Javier Bardem, Jake Gyllenhaal, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Linus Roache, Robert Carlyle, Charlie Hunnam, James Marsden, Scott Speedman and Rupert Graves.

If playing gay is the kiss of death in Hollywood, why are so many of these guys still making movies? After the jump, we pick the tMF Top 5 Gay roles (by real men).

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tMF Top 5 Best Gay Roles: This is quite hard. There are a lot of fantastic performances, but we narrowed it down to just five - take a look:

Honorable Mentions: Daniel Day-Lewis (My Beautiful Laundrette), Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain), Gael Garcia Bernal (Bad Education), Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (Velvet Goldmine) and Robert Stadlober (Summer Storm).

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# 5. Hugh Grant in Maurice. You might be surprised to know that one of Hugh's earliest movies was EM Forster's gay coming-of-age story, Maurice. Adapted for the screen by the Merchant Ivory duo, it also stars James Milby and Rupert Graves. Says Grant Balfour:

The film opens on a stormy, windswept beach, as an older man awkwardly instructs young, fatherless Maurice Hall (James Wilby) in the "sacred mysteries" of sex. The same turbulent, wordless struggle with passion lasts throughout this slowly evolving, beautifully filmed story. Novelist E.M. Forster's brainy, British melodrama hinges on choice and compulsion, as the pensive hero falls for two completely different men. First comes frail, suppressed Clive (Hugh Grant), who wants nothing more than classical Platonic harmony... and a straight lifestyle. (Grant's performance is so convincing, one wonders how he ever became a heterosexual sex symbol.) After Clive's wedding, Maurice turns to hypnosis to cure his unspeakable longings. Unfortunately, his "cure" is interrupted by Clive's lustful, brooding, barely literate gamekeeper Scudder (Rupert Graves), a worker more at home gutting rabbits than discussing the classics. Maurice's love for a "social inferior" forces him to confront his illicit desire and his ingrained class snobbery.

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# 4. Cillian Murphy in Breakfast on Pluto. I'm a big fan of the Irish actor Cillian Murphy. Aside from Disco Pigs and On the Edge, I think this is one of Murphy's most amazing performances. Says Bret Fetzer:

Both epic and intimate, Breakfast on Pluto uses the life of Patrick "Kitten" Braden (Cillian Murphy, Batman Begins), a queer orphan boy, to explore the hidden worlds that lie beneath so-called "normal" society--the subcultures of homosexuals, the Irish Republican Army, and prostitutes. At odds with his conservative Irish town, Patrick rebels with the fearlessness of someone whose life feels worthless. When he leaves for London, where he hopes to find his mother, he joins a touring rock band, is almost murdered, becomes assistant to a magician (Stephen Rea, The Crying Game), is arrested as an IRA terrorist, and joins a peep show--and those are only half of the markers on his odyssey (the movie struggles to encompass the novel by Patrick McCabe). Though the first half of the movie feel almost weightless in the headlong rush of events, a rich emotional heft sneaks up on you; by the end, Breakfast on Pluto has become almost unbearably sad and wonderfully buoyant. Murphy's superb performance is both delicate and willful, ably supported by an excellent cast, including Liam Neeson (Kinsey), Brendan Gleeson (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), and Ian Hart (Backbeat), as well as rock stars Gavin Friday and Bryan Ferry (who has a particularly creepy cameo as a serial killer).

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#3. River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho. River Phoenix is definitely one of a kind. It was his intense, absorbing portrayals of a lost youth, a hustler, a young spy, and someone in love that endeared him to a loyal fans who still remember the fallen actor up to this day. Directed by Gus Van Sant, it also stars Keanu Reeves.

See the movie trailer [ courtesy of youttube ]

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More about the movie: River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves star in director Gus Van Sant’s haunting tale of two young street hustlers: Mike Waters, a sensitive narcoleptic who dreams of the mother who abandoned him, and Scott Favor, wayward son of the mayor of Portland and the object of Mike’s desire. Navigating a volatile world of junkies, thieves, and johns, Mike takes Scott on a quest from the grungy streets to the open highways of the Pacific Northwest, in search of an elusive place called "home." Groundbreaking and visually dazzling, My Own Private Idaho is a stirring look at unrequited love and life at society’s margins.

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#2. Linus Roache in Priest. I simply don't care what critics have to say about Priest. Many of them have lambasted this Antonia Bird film because they are offended by the so-called 'attack on the Catholic Church'. Please take your misplaced traditional values somewhere else. The movie is totally absorbing and allows you to think more about the relevance of religion today. Linus Roache plays the confused yet sexually active Priest to perfection. Says Dave McCoy:

Despite its title, forget about finding this controversial drama on the Vatican's screening list. The film explores a provocative checklist of religious taboos--celibacy, incest, sexual abuse, homosexuality, the debatable secrecy of the confessional--as director Antonia Bird delivers a bold condemnation of what she views as the outdated politics and harmful nature of Catholic doctrine. The story concerns the ideologically strained relationship between two clergymen, the misleading conservative Father Greg (Linus Roache) and his older and more practical colleague, Father Matthew (Tom Wilkinson). Upon arriving at his new Liverpool parish, Greg is shocked to learn that Matthew ignores celibacy and openly sleeps with his black housekeeper. Greg chooses to satisfy his earthly desires in a more secretive way. Sometimes, he likes to lose the cloth, grab a leather jacket, and pick up guys at the local gay pub. He's got other problems as well. While torturing himself with his own moral dilemma, he's hit with another, as during confession a young girl confides that her father is sexually abusing her at home. While this drags out the old "bound by secrecy" cliché of many religious melodramas, Bird uses it to bolster her theme of unwarranted secrecy in the face of faith and social scorn. Ultimately, both the priest and the girl are victims of their own fear, and must find courage to destroy it. Thankfully, Bird's wicked sense of humor keeps the film's tone from slipping into saccharine sentimentality, while Roache's intense performance and a honest, shattering finale rescue the film from swerving too far into shallow TV movie-of-the-week sensationalism.

I was surprised to discovered that the film was actually available on youtube, divided into different parts. Here's part one.

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#1. Heath Ledger in BrokeBack Mountain: Robbed of the Oscar for Best Actor, and the victim of the Academy's elite 'force', Brokeback Mountain gave us a defining role for the late Heath Ledger. While another actor won the award (Oddly enough, for portraying another gay role), Ledger's performance in this movie is moving, honest and heartbreaking. No wonder fans of the actor still remember Heath's Ennis DelMar and share his grief over love lost forever.

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What's on your mind? Do you think actors who play gay roles will not make it big in Hollywood? Are there other actors who played gay roles that you think ought to be in the list? Tell us what you think!

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Comments (25)

Rest in Peace

Ennis Del Mar. Such a great performance. You made me feel like a pure soul with this character.

Heath Ledger. I didn't know you, I never met you but what I know is you died at very wrong time. Rest in peace. I will remember you as a war hero in this world of chaos.

Ecem Ulgen (I'm so here, too)

Ecem Ulgen , September 03, 2008

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That is a good top five. I loved all these movies. Heath Ledger deserves that number one spot. I was crying during that whole movie!

Lydia , September 03, 2008 | url

Who's afraid of playing gay?

The Top Five List is pretty good and I agree with the spirit behind it. The Brits and the rest of the world (relative to America) has been giving us good mainstream gay movies for a the past two decades. My Beautiful Launderette, Maurice, Sammie and Rosie Get Laid, Crying Game, etc etc. The Aussies gave us The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and we saw Matrix Agent Smith nee Elrond (Hugo Weaving) and General (Terence Stamp) Zod drag it up outback style. And let us not forget before he was Zorro, Antonio Banderas was openly gay Spanish Director Pedro Aldomovar's often full frontal muse.

I would submit in the wake of our friends from across the pond and in Europe, we Americans are uptight. Brokeback Mountain broke ground because of its open honesty and intense sexuality. It was there to behold, unlike the soft-peddling of say Tobey Macguire in Wonder Boys or Val Kilmer in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang where being the gay character was more a suggestion than anything.

For that I think Heath Ledger was slighted. Philip Seymour Hoffman captured the essence of Capote, but Ledger created magic in a way a straight actor hadn't done since River Phoenix played opposite Keanu Reeves in the No. 2 on the list.

I would also give an honorable mention to the only African-American mega star to play it gay for the big screen, Big Willie Smith from Six Degrees of Separation opposite Anthony Michael Hall gave, IMHO, one of the most honest, unselfconscious performances of his career.

To me, Hollywood has a long way to go in terms of growing up and representing the many shades of life. It will be nice to see a mainstream openly gay actor play a gay character in a mainstream gay-themed movie and then jump into the role of the Next Action Hero without raising an eyebrow, when we can have an actor go from playing Derek Jacobi's lover to James Bond.

Morpheus , September 03, 2008 | url

good list...

However, River Phoenix gave without a doubt the greatest performance of the bunch. Ledger's performance was great, but didnt astound me in the way Phoenix managed to. He should extra kudos for writing that all important camp fire scene also. for a straight actor to take on that role and then write such a truthful and emotional scene from a gay mans perspective should put him into the top spot without a doubt. River had something very special indeed. RIP Ledger and Phoenix- huge inspirations and huge losses.

JD , September 03, 2008

Give me a break!

I don't understand why I'm reading that true actors are ones that brave the world of playing gay. As a hetero female, there's not enough money in the world to pay me to intimately touch another woman, and a lesbian friend of mine has said the same about playing a role sexually with a man.

Since when have you all praised a die hard gay who plays it straight with a love scene? It doesn't happen!

Why does Robert Pattinson have to play gay to prove he is a capable actor? As a young woman, I'm saddened by his new role.

There's nothing wrong with gays playing gay and straights playing straight.

Tracy , September 03, 2008

Playing a character is never easy, especially if its hard to relate

I think the issue here is the premise that as straight actors, it would be hard for them to relate to a gay character. First of all, they like women and are not interested in pursuing a relationship with another man.

The top 5 list of straight actors who played gay were praised because its hard to be 'in character' and at the same time make moviegoers believed its not a character at all, but it's actually them. Heath was praise for his honest portray of a gay cowboy, he's not even a cowboy, much less a gay man. Same goes with Linus, he's not in anyway part of the Church and preach sermons but he managed to be so convincing as both a 'man of God' and as a gay man.

I think River did the same as much as Cillian Murphy who was exceptionally ravishing as Kitten and the charming Hugh Grant, who was even caught paying a prostitute to have sex with him. These are hot blooded hetero who managed to play homo in a big way.

jed , September 03, 2008

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Now here's a question which Tracy made me think of: Are there alot of roles where women are praised for their portrayl as a lesbian? I was wondering since you only talked about men in this article, and because I can't think of a role off the top of my head. Is playing gay the kiss of death for an actress? Just curious...

marinemomusa78 , September 04, 2008

Monster starring Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci Salma Hayek

The focus on the article actually stems from Daniel Radcliffe's interview with Details Mag, I was just expanding the topic to give it more perspective. But since you've asked, I also think it would be great to further expand on the article to highlight some of the actresses making big decisions by playing lesbian roles.

The first movie that comes to mind is Monster starring the Oscar winner Charlize Theron and her equally fantastic co-star Christina Ricci.

Another would be Salma Hayek, in a number of films actually.

I would thinkm their integrity as actors made them not so vulnerable playing these lesbian roles. Aside from the fact that these are highly-respected actresses.

jed , September 04, 2008

Just speculating...

Let's not forget Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry.

I'd venture a guess that playing gay for an actress might not be considered as big an accomplishment or risk for two reasons. The first is that, at least here in the states, seeing two women kiss or be intimate is generally greeted with less hostility than seeing two men do anything intimate.

The second, and probably more important reason is that there still exists an overwhelming belief that being a gay man is emasculating. So if a talented mainstream straight actor decides to play a gay or trans character it's considered gutsy because they're playing a role that not only goes against the masculine ideal but the narrow-minded beliefs of a society. A gay actor playing a straight role wouldn't get much praise for the simple fact that heterosexuality doesn't offend very many people, so it's not such a bold choice. No one would even think to praise them for playing the role convincingly.

As far as straight actors playing straight roles and gay actors playing gay roles is concerned, it sounds good in theory, but it's kind of like saying only Chinese people should play Chinese characters. Not to mention there are so few out actors and actresses in Hollywood, so the selection would be extremely limited when it comes time to cast a film.

Spike , September 04, 2008

...

I'm more annoyed by the title of this article. Gay role for real man? This is almost implying that straight men are real men and gays aren't. Unfortunately, stereotyping happens even in the most subconscious way, so don't just blame Hollywood.

Jennepher , September 04, 2008

Ridiculous!

What is annoying is that you still accept the 'validity' of stereotyping, when in fact you just wanted to be controversial.

I'm more annoyed by the title of this article. Gay role for real man? This is almost implying that straight men are real men and gays aren't. Unfortunately, stereotyping happens even in the most subconscious way, so don't just blame Hollywood.

That's what you call a catchy title, and it's all about PR. ha!

jed , September 04, 2008

I think there's hope for Hollywood...

...and for the actors who portray more and more challenging roles. To play gay when not, is considered a stretch, a challenge. While sometimes this leads to controversy, it can also lead to acclaim. Which is why I think Hollywood may be fickle, but there's hope yet.

blearyeyedmesgirl , September 04, 2008 | url

?

I'm curious, how do you know all these actors are straight ?

You make it sound they're all 100% straight.

There are actors who go both ways.. even famous ones. James Dean, Marlon Brando anyone ?

Hardly sissies

haloa , September 04, 2008

some stories...

If a man knows more than the color of a woman's shoes and identified the exact name of the designer, then something is curiously 'wicked' about him.

Instinct is more powerful than hearing someone whisper some rumors to your ears.

jed , September 04, 2008

What?

Jonathan Rhys Meyers in Velvet Goldmine? Bisexual. The character had sex with men and women. He had a wife, for pete's sake. Same goes for both Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain, despite all the hype about it being "gay" movie. People who have romantic/sexual relationships with people of both genders are not gay.

As for Cillian Murphy in Breakfast on Pluto... have you seen the film? Not only do you have basic facts wrong, let's start with the fact that the character isn't gay! Kitten is not a man in drag or a transvestite, not a gay man in women's clothes at all. She is transgendered and heterosexual.

If you're going to write a goofy article like this, at least try to know the material you're writing about.

Allyn , September 04, 2008

So what?

Bisexualilty is not really a significant term anymore. Is there really such a condition as being bisexual? As far as I'm concerned, the term gay is used in the article to mean having a relationship with the same sex, it does not matter whether there are instances when sex is done in the 'normal' way. Can't a gay man have sex with a woman? Your generalization is ridiculous.

Heath's role and Jake's are not gay? are you a psychiatrist perhaps, or have been part in the writing of the script?

Dressing up in women's clothes can be considered to be gay in some parts. I don't know where you came from.

Goofy but popular, whatever you think, but thanks for such an insightful response.

jed , September 05, 2008

what? (part 2)

If a man has a wife, then absolutely he's not gay... How old are you anyway, what set of eyes are you using to judge the world?

jed , September 05, 2008

excuse you?

I honestly hope that the inference that "real men" are straight men is just a misinterpretation.

If not, how very sad for you.

mwrh , September 05, 2008

Yes, I'm sad....

because instead of discussing and celebrating the movies and actors I praised here, some people want to accuse me of something that is so insignificant, I want to puke.

First of all, the term gay denotes more than men who prefer other men, it also includes transexuals, etc. The mere fact that I used the term gay encompasses a group of people, hence Cillian Murphy's performance was praised.

As for the use of real men, it's a title that aims to interest readers as to what the topic is all about...and to question really that real = straight? If you felt offended, then you definitely have issues. Does it mean, if you're gay and you see a title that says 'Gay roles for real men' it offends you? Have you actually read the article?

You're just like the bigot TV announcer in the Milk trailer. You generalize, you draw your own conclusion and then you accuse. If you're gay and you did that, then I'm truly truly sad for you.

jed , September 05, 2008

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LOL. I don't know who wrote this piece, but seems like it's Jed. If you have to bash everyone who don't agree with you, then you are pity sad too. Can't take any criticism? then don't show your article to the world, don't you know you can't have everyone agree with you? BTW, I'm a straight woman. If I'm offended by the title, can you imagine what the gay men would feel? Sure, you don't care because that's good PR, catchy title, right? Who cares if you insult others if you get them to read your stuff.

Jennepher , September 05, 2008

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Actually, I take it back. If you can't take criticism, you can still show your article to the world, just don't open the door and ask for other's comment. You have the power. Easier to not let others talk rather than ask them to shut up, no?!

Jennepher , September 05, 2008

really part 3?

Yes, funny you ask. I have the power to delete and ban your IP address and everything else in between, even send you a hate email if that's what your thinking...but have I done that?

You're too 'straight' to realize the point. If I can't take criticism then you would not see the negative comments still published here- and its been days since you've been here. They are still there- glowing examples of what some people like to say and focus on.

I just react to what people say, coz I'm the author right? I'm all for freedom of speech and same sex marriage, sex change and what have you, but I also have the right to give anyone a piece of my mind, since in the first place this is supposed to be my article.

jed , September 05, 2008

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Yep, good that I asked, cos I wrote it to make sure you won't ban/delete or hassle me with emails, reverse psychology, baby. You have all the right to defend your article, I'm just amused that you seem to be offended by the fact that you have to defend your article. That's all.

Jennepher , September 06, 2008

Robbed

You have got to be joking, Heath Ledger robbed of the Oscar? You're only saying that cause he's death, in no way was he better than Philip Seymour Hoffman, who is and always will be a better actor than Heath Ledger.

NoneOfYourBusiness , September 06, 2008

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You should write an article about openly gay/bi actors who've never played gay/bi !

and there are many of them !

now that'd be funny

Mama Latoufah , September 06, 2008

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