Neil Patrick Harris Finds It ‘Sexy’ When Straight Actors Play Gay
While speaking with The Times UK, 47-year-old out gay actor Neil Patrick Harris says he finds it “sexy” when straight actors play gay.
In addition to controversy over non-Black actors playing Black and Brown characters, another topic is heterosexual actors portraying queer characters — which NPH approves of. On Thursday (Jan. 21), he says he believes that directors should hire the “best actor” for the role, regardless of their orientation off-screen.
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He explains, “I think there’s something sexy about casting a straight actor to play a gay role — if they’re willing to invest a lot into it.” Referring to his longtime role as a heterosexual in ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ the Tony Award winner adds, “I played a character for nine years who was nothing like me. I would definitely want to hire the best actor.” He continues, “In our world that we live in you can’t really as a director demand that [an actor be gay or straight]. Who’s to determine how gay someone is?”
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