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Should openly gay actors be excluded from playing straight roles in films ? Straight actors often play gay roles...

And closeted gay actors, like Rock Hudson, Paul Winfield, Roddy McDowell, etc, played straight roles with no one the wiser.

Matt Bomer (White Collar) is among those being considered to play "Christian Grey" in the film version of '50 Shades of Grey' and people are complaining, because the actor is gay in real life. One blogger said, "the role should go to someone who actually likes women". Your thoughts ?

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    Best Answer (Chosen By Asker):

    KeasbeyNights - 22-25 years old - male

    Posted by KeasbeyNights Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:11PM

    They're actors... it's their job to act. Did they want an actual psychopath to play the Joker or do they want the actual person to perform roles in biopics? Their criticisms are ridiculous.

    [ Reply ] | Like (4)

  1. bijouxbroussard - 46-50 years old - female

    Reply by bijouxbroussard Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:17PM

    I totally agree.

    Like (1)

23 Answers to "Should openly gay actors be excluded from playing straight roles in films ? Straight actors often play gay roles..."

  1. JayFett - 36-40 years old - male

    Posted by JayFett Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:09PM

    If the actor can play the role well, who cares what their real sexuality is?

    Like (7)

  2. Rennn - 18-21 years old - male

    Posted by Rennn Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:10PM

    You don't stop Jason Statham from playing in action movies because he's not an elite mercenary bad*** in real life.

    Like (4)

  3. cpthaddock - 51-55 years old - male

    Posted by cpthaddock Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:23PM

    During Shakespeare's days, the female parts were all taken by male actors

    Like (3)

  4. MrAmoxycillin - 22-25 years old

    Posted by MrAmoxycillin Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:13PM

    You mean like " How i met your mother" Barney Stinson ? ...

    Like (3)

  5. bijouxbroussard - 46-50 years old - female

    Reply by bijouxbroussard Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:21PM

    Excellent example. I think most of the people (mainly women) who are complaining are afficionados of the book.

    Like (1)

  6. Sublimelovecuts - 18-21 years old - male

    Posted by Sublimelovecuts Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:10PM

    Sir Ian Mckellen = Gandalf the Grey

    Would you exclude this combination?

    Like (3)

  7. bijouxbroussard - 46-50 years old - female

    Reply by bijouxbroussard Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:25PM

    Sir Ian is amazing, period.

    Like (1)

  8. danieldarko - 36-40 years old - male

    Posted by danieldarko Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:09PM

    as long as they kill the part i do not care. Spacey is gay and is a terrific actor. Same goes for musicians. Mercury ruled

    Like (3)

  9. LoneVagabond - 31-35 years old - male

    Posted by LoneVagabond Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:09PM

    My thoughts? Stupid peopel are stupid.

    Like (3)

  10. scr3amingInside - 36-40 years old - female

    Posted by scr3amingInside Apr 21st, 2013 at 6:49PM

    should not matter if their gay or not it is business and they should not be treated any different as you said straight actors have played gay roles this I know to be true (Tom Hanks-Philadelphia) was a great movie he played Andrew Beckett a gay man.it was a great film should be both ways in my opinion

    Like (2)

  11. AbrahamL - 41-45 years old - male

    Posted by AbrahamL Feb 23rd, 2013 at 1:42AM

    I think people are forgetting the word "actor" in the whole sentence. It is about acting, not inserting details of one's life. On the same line of thought, Dusting Hoffman could not have played "Tootsie" because in real life he is actually a man.

    Like (2)

  12. caramelLova1 - 31-35 years old - female

    Posted by caramelLova1 Feb 20th, 2013 at 11:18PM

    No. It's just acting.

    Like (2)

  13. FattyBumppo - 22-25 years old - male

    Posted by FattyBumppo Feb 20th, 2013 at 3:46PM

    "the role should go to someone who actually likes women"
    Considering the source material this statement seems ridiculous no matter how you look at it.
    Furthermore, this is Matt Bomer we're talking about. He has played an extraordinary womanizer in literally everything I've seen him in and without having read the books he seems like he would fit the role of some smarmy, rich pervert who is somehow also a twisted romantic perfectly.

    But aside from this particular case: they're actors. But don't tell this boy or you might shatter is illusion of sex scenes being creatively edited footage of raw passion instead of coldly staged productions with a whole crew *just* outside the frame..

    Like (2)

  14. bijouxbroussard - 46-50 years old - female

    Reply by bijouxbroussard Feb 20th, 2013 at 4:52PM

    LOL ! I think you've probably made the best point yet, considering the subject of the story. The main protagonist is heterosexual, but whether or not he "likes women" is open to question. And Bomer has indeed played straight characters successfully. He plays one currently in White Collar, as he did in the film Magic Mike, with no complaints.

    Like (1)

  15. QueenIzabella - 56-60 years old

    Posted by QueenIzabella Feb 20th, 2013 at 3:39PM

    I know it makes no sense, but I am bothered by gay actors playing straights. I still remember when Harrison Ford made that silly romantic comedy with Anne Heche, at the time she was supposedly gay, & it just bugged the crap out of me that she was cast opposite Ford in that movie. I mean Hollywood is stocked with plenty of actresses who would've filled that role perfectly well, so why the Hades did they pick Anne Heche, who was not only openly gay (at the time), but is not even that good an actress. To this day I can't even stand the thought of that movie!

    Like (2)

  16. bijouxbroussard - 46-50 years old - female

    Reply by bijouxbroussard Feb 20th, 2013 at 3:48PM

    I appreciate your frankness. One blogger in particular who loved the book was saying that she couldn't imagine being able to suspend disbelief enough to see Bomer in the role of a man in love with a woman, so it would ruin the "fantasy" for her.

    Like (1)

  17. ARestlessSoul - 26-30 years old

    Posted by ARestlessSoul Feb 20th, 2013 at 2:56PM

    Oh, god.

    The only thing I'm complaining about is that they're actually turning that piece of crap into a movie.

    But this is the age of "Twilight," I guess. And Hollywood's known for producing a lot of crap.

    Like (2)

  18. bijouxbroussard - 46-50 years old - female

    Reply by bijouxbroussard Feb 20th, 2013 at 4:54PM

    True. And considering all the hype around the book, it really was only a matter of time and finding a director who would touch it. ;)

    Like (1)

  19. ARestlessSoul - 26-30 years old

    Reply by ARestlessSoul Feb 20th, 2013 at 8:23PM

    Yep, sad but true, haha. It's not the explicit sexuality in the series I find offensive (I read much kinkier stuff), it's the fact that such a poorly written trash novel tried to pass itself off as fine literature. When I first heard people talking about it, I expected some deep, multi-faceted, psychologically layered modern classic. Pssssh! More like a teen romance novel.

    Like (1)

  20. LucilleLucilleLucille - 46-50 years old - female

    Posted by LucilleLucilleLucille Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:17PM

    No.They are actors after all.
    A friend of mine just got the lead in an independent film as a prohibition era wife.
    She usually gets roles as the girlfriend or beautiful "muse".
    She plays them well and has no interest in men whatsoever.Acting is her job.

    Like (2)

  21. bijouxbroussard - 46-50 years old - female

    Reply by bijouxbroussard Feb 20th, 2013 at 10:49PM

    Very cool.

    Like (1)

  22. LucilleLucilleLucille - 46-50 years old - female

    Reply by LucilleLucilleLucille Feb 21st, 2013 at 7:48AM

    I think so! I hope she does well with this one.

    Like (1)

  23. justthinking763 - 46-50 years old - male

    Posted by justthinking763 Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:15PM

    This is why they are actors. If they do it well then what does it matter.

    Like (2)

  24. BamPow - 41-45 years old - male

    Posted by BamPow Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:10PM

    Not at all. Sexuality is only part of what makes a person. Acting is the illusion of becoming someone else, so a good actor should be able to "become" their character without having to be like their character. Plenty of actors have played pilots, but you'd probably never want them flying you around in an airplane.

    Like (2)

  25. bijouxbroussard - 46-50 years old - female

    Reply by bijouxbroussard Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:22PM

    Yes. "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on tv" is a running joke, after all. ;)

    Like (1)

  26. BamPow - 41-45 years old - male

    Reply by BamPow Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:25PM

    Another great example that I know you'll appreciate is Alan Alda when he played Hawkeye Pierce on MASH. Personally, Alda was always a HUGE supporter of feminism and women's issues, but he loved playing a womanizing character like Hawkeye as a way to personally explore that mindset even though the character couldn't be any further from who he was as a person and what he believed in.

    Like (1)

    2 more replies
  27. happyadventurer - 26-30 years old - female

    Posted by happyadventurer Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:10PM

    all that matters is whether or not they are good actors.

    Like (2)

  28. TwattyMcCocknoodles - 22-25 years old

    Posted by TwattyMcCocknoodles Feb 20th, 2013 at 1:10PM

    people ***** entirely too much about **** doesn't even affect them in their day to day life, if the actor is right for the part cast him **** how others feel I bet those same people would still go see the movie

    Like (2)

  29. TheBoyWonder - 36-40 years old - male

    Posted by TheBoyWonder Apr 21st, 2013 at 6:34PM

    i dont think he is actually being considered for it, he has just been nominated by a ton of his fans.

    if the actors dont have a problem with it why should anyone else - thats like saying only english people should play english roles, they are ACTORS, thats kind of their job, pretending to be someone theyre not

    Like (1)

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