Logo

Deadline, YouTube

Why Emmy-Winning Actor for ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace’ Says He Will No Longer Play LGBTQ Characters

Dec 27, 2018  •  Post A Comment

“Darren Criss has played numerous characters on TV, film, and stage, but he is best known for his roles as Blaine in ‘Glee’ and his recent turn as the real-life Andrew Cunanan in ‘The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’ for which he has won an Emmy and, most recently, a Golden Globe nomination. In addition, he played the titular character in Broadway’s ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch.’ The characters are members of the LGBTQ community and Criss, who identifies as heterosexual, said that those will be the last queer characters he will play.”

So writes Dino-Ray Ramos at Deadline.com.

Criss says that while the characters he’s played “are wonderful,” he feels strongly that “I want to make sure I won’t be another straight boy taking a gay man’s role.”

The story adds, “Hollywood is currently in transition when it comes to authentic representation of LGBTQ characters, people of color and other members from marginalized communities — and Criss is very cognizant of that.”

Here’s Criss as Blaine in a classic TV moment: Blaine and Kurt’s (Chris Colfer) first kiss on “Glee” (from YouTube):

One Comment

  1. Darren Chris is wrong on this. As a gay man, I certainly have no objection to straight actors in gay roles or gay actors in straight roles. The criteria should simply be whether they can convincingly play the role. Period.

Your Comment

Email (will not be published)