There is ongoing debate and discussion within the entertainment industry and LGBTQ+ community about whether only gay actors should play gay characters. While some people argue that only actors who identify as LGBTQ+ should be cast in LGBTQ+ roles, others believe that an actor’s sexual orientation should not be a determining factor in casting decisions.
Ultimately, the decision about who to cast in a particular role is up to the director and producers of a project. However, it’s important to consider the impact that casting decisions can have on representation and visibility for LGBTQ+ people in the entertainment industry. If LGBTQ+ actors are consistently passed over for LGBTQ+ roles, it can perpetuate the idea that LGBTQ+ people are not capable of playing a wide range of characters or that their experiences are not valuable.
Which straight actors have played gay parts?
There are many straight actors who have played LGBTQ+ characters in films, television shows, and theatre productions. Here are some examples:
It is worth noting that the casting of straight actors to play gay characters has been a topic of debate in recent years, with some arguing that it is important to provide more opportunities for LGBTQ actors to tell their own stories.
Ultimately, the goal should be to create more opportunities for LGBTQ+ actors to play a diverse range of characters, including LGBTQ+ characters, while also ensuring that LGBTQ+ representation is portrayed in a respectful and accurate way.
So what happened to the cast of Brokeback Mountain?
It was one hell of a game changer. A short-story from Ang Lee that was turned into a major Hollywood film. It raked in millions in Box Office receipts and home / rental sales, but where is the cast now?
Jake Gyllenhaal
When Brokeback Mountain was released, Jake was already a renown Hollywood star, having made his name in films like Donnie Darko and The Day After Tomorrow. However, after appearing as Jack Twist in BBM, Jake’s stock as an actor had a phenomenal rise. His appearance in films has netted film studios nearly a billion dollars in box office revenues. Brokeback Mountain is his third biggest movie, preceded by Prince of Persia, The Sands of Time ($90.7m) and The Day After Tomorrow ($186m)
Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger was big box office news up until his untimely death in 2008. He died of a heart attack brought on by prescription drug intoxication. The lifetime gross box office of his films is over $955,000,000, with over half of this coming from the smash film, The Dark Knight in which he played one of the scariest Jokers of all time. Again, like Jake, Brokeback Mountain was his third most financially successful film in which he played Ennis Del Mar. This success was preceded by The Patriot and followed by A Knight’s Tale. The last film in which he starred was 2009’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.
Since Anne was in BBM as Jack’s wife, she’s not stopped working, becoming one of Hollywood’s most bankable actors. Since 2005 she has starred in over 19 films, the highest grossing was The Dark Knight Rises. She outstrips the boys’ lifetime grosses by over a $1bn with a stunning worth of $2.4 bn in box office receipts.
Michelle started her film career in the family favourite Lassie in 1994. BBM was her third film of 2005, where she played the wife of Ennis. At the time she and her co-star Heath Ledger were a couple, however, they split in 2007. Since BBM she’s appeared in 16 feature films. The best-selling was Oz The Great And Powerful which grossed $234m at the Box office.
Randy Quaid
BBM is Randy’s 2nd best-selling film, the first being Roland Emmerich’s’ Independence Day in 1994 where he managed to save the world by flying a jet into the Alien’s mothership. The 66-year-old has appeared in over 90 films and grossed a stunning $948m in box office receipts.
Just how well are us LGBTs portrayed on television & film? Here are 9 of our favourite TV characters.
So I’m going to list my 9 best examples of LGBT characters based on their iconic status or accurate portrayal. For this list I’m using the characters sexuality and identity only, not the actors who portray them.
1. Maura Pfefferman (Jeffrey Tambor)
Transparent. A sensitive and moving portrait of a trans-woman struggling to come to terms with her gender identity and having to come out to her family as transgender. Transparent depicts the struggles that families go through when a loved one comes out with a secret like this. Luckily the series doesn’t sensationalise the issue, nor does it become offensive of the portrayal of Maura, who says the most wonderful line “All my life, my whole life I’ve been dressing up like a man, this is me” Definitely worth a watch.
2. Ellen Morgan (Ellen DeGeneres)
Ellen. In 1997 The Puppy Episode the character of Ellen loudly announced to a whole airport terminal she was gay and made television history in the process. DeGeneres herself came out on the same day to Oprah (who had guest starred in the episode) and the show took a light-hearted comedic approach to the character who’s sexuality had always been a source of speculation. However, after the episode aired ratings started to decline and criticisms were aimed at the writers for concentrating too much on the gay aspect of a character and the show was cancelled a year later.
Here are our “Six of the Best” films where the leads are not afraid to shed their clothes.
Whether it is an expression of art, for the purposes of titillation or arousal or whether it is just for a good laugh, nudity is becoming more and more prevalent in mainstream cinema. Some well-established stars are becoming more comfortable with showing their bodies leading to more flesh on display than ever before. So sit back, relax, hide your modesty and enjoy six of the best…
Bronson
Telling the story of Charles Bronson, one of Britain’s most prolific prisoners, this hard, edgy and violent drama was surrounded in controversy upon its release for glorifying both violence and crime and, most notoriously, for Charles Bronson himself sending a phone message for the film’s premiere from a mobile smuggled into his cell. The film is uneasy viewing at times and relentless in its normalisation of violence, but the film also gained massive praise for the performance of Tom Hardy. Hardy not only gives what is arguably a career best performance but also delights gay men everywhere by a number of full frontal scenes and him engaging in naked fighting with an assortment of prison guards.
This feel good film tells the story of six unemployed Sheffield steelworkers who decide that they are going to make a quick profit by setting themselves up as male strippers. But what sets them apart from the other acts at the working men club is that for one night only, they are going “the full monty”. Crammed full of cheeky northern humour, genuine laugh out loud moments and a touching story of family and friendship underpinning the comedy, this low-budget British film went on to be nominated for four Oscar’s (landing one of them) and became one of the most successful British films of all time. What it lacks in eye candy, it makes up for in soul…. And who can forget the films memorable ending..?
Borat: Cultural Learning’s of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
In his second and most successful big screen outing, Sacha Baron Cohen shocked audiences with his divisive comedy in this mockumentary about a hapless TV reporter from Kazakhstan. Borat travels across America in search of American culture whilst obsessing over Pamela Anderson. Audiences watched from in-between their fingers, not knowing whether to laugh or be horrified as Borat engages in a naked wrestle with his sweaty TV producer (it’s not as gay as it sounds…). Starting in their hotel room, where there are some scenes of uncomfortably close body contact, the pair round off their melee by streaking through the hotel and gate-crashing a business conference being held there. Raising more than eyebrows, Baron Cohen went on to push the boundaries of comedy even further with his gay Austrian TV presenter, Bruno.
Peter Greenaway directs Ewan McGregor in this rich and visually intriguing film which fuses a dark, modern drama with Asian cultural ideals and standards. The film centres on a young Japanese model and her exploration of her cultural and sexual boundaries through calligraphy. Utilising her lover’s bodies, as well as her own, as her canvas, there is flesh in abundance, including enough of Ewan McGregor to write a few sentences on. The film is not the usual Hollywood fare, and at times is very heavy going, but the rich characters, beautiful visual presentation (with reams of overlaid Japanese scripture and heavy colour washes) along with an unusual story make this a rewarding watch for the patient viewer.
Starship Troopers
Bugs, spaceships, non-stop action, tongue in cheek humour and graphic gore all combine in Paul Verhoven’s classic sci-fi film. Set in the not too distant future, the story follows a group of friends as they go through their training in the futuristic armed forces to defend Earth from the attacks of giant bugs from space. The film is often described as a sideways swipe at fascism and the elements of fascism in American society. That aside, the film really is as silly as it sounds, and is immense fun for those with a slightly stronger stomach, given the high violence and gore content. It also has a ridiculously attractive “wholesome” cast, including the incredibly chiselled and perfectly formed Casper Van Dien and the beautiful Denise Richards, amongst others, displaying everything they own in a communal mixed-sex shower.
Set against the backdrop of Pittsburgh, Viagra salesman, Jamie Randall, meets a young woman, Maggie, and seduces her for a one night stand. Maggie, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, simply wants a physical relationship with the bed-hopping salesman, but, despite their best efforts, they both find themselves falling in love. However, Maggie’s illness becomes progressively worse, leading to difficult choices for them both. This film is your typical romantic comedy fare with very little in terms of storyline and plot to separate it from most other films of the genre. But what it does have is two incredibly attractive leads that portray likeable characters and the film also has a certain charm which means you find yourself getting swept up in the fluffiness of it all. But even if you fail to engage with the story, there is eye candy aplenty in the form of a very frequently naked Jake Gyllenhaal and the beautiful Anne Hathaway showing more than anticipated giving both the boys and the girls something to look at.
Gaydar have released information on what its users consider to be the world’s sexiest man. In a poll of over 4000 participants, we reveal the world’s most wanted man.
Gaydar.net, one of the world’s most popular gay dating sites, has just surveyed its male members to uncover their thoughts on the most attractive elements of their favourite male celebrities. In a bid to create the sexiest looking man, members rated celebrity body parts and personality traits from David Beckham to Zac Efron.
Typically a heterosexually focused survey, Gaydar has taken the reigns and decided it’s time for the sexiest man to be identified from the gay male perspective, and here he is…
The Body
According to the poll, the sexiest man would be fortunate enough to have Ben Cohen’s chest with Taylor Lautner’s stomach, Ronaldo’s butt, Hugh Jackman’s biceps and personality, as well as David Beckham’s legs, tattoos and wealth.
The Face
Facially, the most attractive combination voted for includes Brad Pitt’s smile, Gerard Butler’s voice, Jake Gyllenaal’s eyes and nose, Zac Efron’s hairstyle, Tom Hardy’s lips and Jason Statham’s jaw.
What Are Top Priorities for Gaydar Guys?
Sex appeal is, by far, the main element in making the sexiest man with nearly a third of men picking this as their first preference and one fifth including it as one of their three preferences.
It’s confirmed: guys are also a sucker for a pretty face as the smile and eyes were the second most important factor (with 14% and 13% of votes respectively).
Personality and talent were also considered, with respondents choosing their ideal man to possess Gerard Butler’s personality, David Beckham’s sex appeal, Amir Khan’s sporting prowess and Jude Law’s dress sense. Surprisingly though, just 8% of guys identified a personality as a primary factor in attractiveness and only 1% said dress sense.
It’s fair to say that guys aren’t gold diggers because wealth is not seen as important either, with less than half a percent choosing this as a preferred feature.
The Celebrity Relationship Favourite
The sexiest celebrity overall is David Beckham. He is also the celebrity gay guys would most like to introduce to the parents (13%), yet a similar percentage of guys said they would actually avoid him (12%) suggesting that although sexy, not everyone thinks Becks is relationship material.
Forget those porn movies – Gay characters are becoming more and more prominent in mainstream cinema.
Table of Contents
Films that explore the relationships between same-sex couples are increasingly seen in the multiplexes as opposed to being the preserve of the art-house or independent cinema circuits. There have been a number of pivotal moments in cinema whereby films with wider appeal have either hinted at or graphically displayed on screen gay or lesbian sex. From Personal Best to The Crying Game,The Rocky Horror Show to My Beautiful Laundrette, there is a welcome increase in both serious and light-hearted looks at the gay community. But with it, comes an increase in sex scenes, which can arouse you, make you reflect or fill you with romance. Here are six of the best, which, for a variety of reasons, are ones which are of note.
6. Threesome
Intellectual Eddie (Josh Charles) is in the closet. Heading to college, he finds himself sharing a dorm with Stuart (Stephen Baldwin), a jock and serial womaniser. But due to an administrative error, their other roommate is Alex (Lara Flynn Boyle), a feisty young woman who is down as a male on the college records. But the complications start as they grow closer. Stuart loves Alex and wants sex with her. Alex loves Eddie and wants sex with him. And Eddie loves Stuart, hiding his desires to have sex with him and secretly checking him out at every opportunity. The three of them become firm friends and, of course, sex gets in the way. Until that is, they think that they have found the perfect solution….
But will the three of them end up in a ménage a Trois and will Eddie ever get his desires towards Stuart fulfilled? A mostly shirtless, muscular Baldwin brother plays the all-American depraved teen with lustful desires towards his female roommate, but who gets more of an education at college than he probably imagined when he filled out his application.
Zack is an aspiring artist trapped in a life of supporting his dysfunctional family and caring for his nephew, until his best friend’s gay brother, Shaun (Brad Rowe), comes back from L.A. As the two hang out and surf together their feelings for each other develop among the waves, surfboards and wetsuits. Not only do they hide their relationship for Zack’s benefit, who is struggling with his new found feelings, Shaun encourages Zack to take control of his life and follow his ambitions. But not before the two of them have engaged in plenty of bedroom activities.
If a hunky surfer, a semi-twink and lots of manly dudes in wetsuits is your thing, then this film may be for you. The beautiful boys find time to kiss, cuddle and caress each other in the California sun, the highlight of this film is an early morning romp whereby the boys nearly get caught by their brother and best friend.
In this steamy thriller, two girls accuse a high school counsellor of raping them in a convoluted extortion plot. But as the key players in the plan find themselves increasingly mistrusting of the others, Suzie Marie Toller (played by Neve Cambell) attacks Kelly Lanier Van Ryan (Denise Richards) in a swimming pool, but the attack turns to lust as the two girls kiss passionately and undress each other, whilst all the time being observed and filmed by a police officer hiding in the undergrowth.
The swimming pool scene is one example of how this film strides out where other erotic thrillers (Basic Instinct, Showgirls) feared to tread by showing erotic lesbian sex scenes with partially nude Hollywood starlets. After watching this, it becomes clear why they stayed in the pool to cool off.
Teenage life on a London council estate is difficult for Jamie, who has a crush on his handsome classmate and neighbour, Ste (played by the very beautiful Scott Neal). In Beautiful Thing, Ste has his own problems with his dysfunctional family and alcoholic father. Love slowly blossoms between the two boys as they deal with an interfering neighbour, visit their first gay bar and grow into their sexuality.
The catalyst for all of this is when Ste is beaten by his father and spends the night at Jamie’s. Sleeping “top to toe”, Jamie starts by massaging Ste’s bruised body, but this turns into much more as the two boys end up kissing and subsequently sleeping together. But what makes this scene so special is that it is a beautifully tender moment which takes you back to your first love and maybe even reminds you of those fledgeling fumbles you once had.
In this film noir fuelled movie, Violet (Jennifer Tilley) wishes to escape her violent criminal boyfriend and so engages in a clandestine affair with a sexually charged ex-con, Corky (Gina Gershon) and the two of them plan to rip off $2 million of mob money. Double-crossing, violent criminals and underhand tactics cannot detract from the explicit sexual aspects of this film.
The two women are beautiful and their first encounter is a breathy, whispered and intimate one. Whoever thought that showing someone your tattoo would lead to such an erotic encounter? But their second encounter is why this film makes the list. As the camera pans around the two women, their graphic intimacy is clearly shown and the passion of the two women for each other really shows.
More visually detailed than your usual mainstream Hollywood film, this was a groundbreaking film at the time and settles in a high position in this list.
Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) are two Cowboys who find themselves with only each other for company whilst working high up on the slopes of Brokeback Mountain. With nothing but a supply of whisky and each other, they find a way to pass the time, leading to some fairly rough initial intimacy and huge feelings of guilt. But as the years go by, they share something more special than either of them ever anticipated and what starts off as a drunken fumble becomes a deep love for each other, although Ennis struggles more with it than Jack, who wants them to be together.
Who could resist Heath ledger and Jake Gyllenhall dressed as cowboys and engaging in some manly fun? Their first encounter in the tent, involving some spit and a few minutes of grunting is perhaps the best-known sex scene in the film, despite a number of other more romantic encounters as the years go by. But the film makes the list not for this scene or for the tantalising prospect of the two leads in various states of undress, but for the most romantic scene whereby, on a fishing trip, Ennis approaches Jack and simply folds his arms around him in an emotional embrace. Who says that romance is dead?
As a poignant and touching love story, Brokeback Mountain deserves to help revive an ailing genre..
After a short stint trying to re-craft the comic book blockbuster in his own image, Ang Lee returns, gloriously, to more familiar ground. Based on Annie Proulx’s celebrated short story, Brokeback Mountain is a grand epic, a heartbreaking love story of two Wyoming ranch hands who fall for each other.
It’s remarkable to see a movie about a gay romance told in such a determinedly straight fashion. In fact where most contemporary rom-coms perform all sorts of contrived narrative somersaults to keep its lovers apart, in Brokeback Mountain, the circumstances of a hostile society that conspire to separate Jake Gyllenhaal’s Jack Twist and Heath Ledger’s Ennis Del Mar are utterly believable and genuinely painful.
But it’s not just the boys you end up rooting for. One of the reasons that Ang Lee’s film come across as so incredibly human is his reluctance to introduce a villain into the piece. The female leads could easily have been two-dimensional obstacles to true love. Instead, they’re almost as tragic as the men; it is not, after all, their fault that they unwittingly married blokes who were secretly spoken for.
It will be interesting to see how these themes will play in the queer-fear conservative heartlands of America. There’s a very real possibility that the idea of gay cowboys will threaten the middle class majority; those who are more comfortable when gay people are safely stereotyped as queeny LA fashionistas.
As a poignant and touching love story, Brokeback Mountain deserves to help revive an ailing genre: studio wisdom has it that sweeping romances spanning 20 years are a dead idea. On this evidence, they really should think about doing it more often.
Anticipation: Some kind of Priscilla, Queen of the Ranch, right?
Enjoyment: By the end you’d sell your own grandmother if it would help make things alright for them.
In Retrospect: As soon as it ends you’ll want to watch it again. Even if it meant putting yourself once more through the emotional wringer.
