Ellen Page, the Oscar-nominated star of Juno, Hard Candy and the Sundance hit Tallulah, has some challenging words for the Hollywood double-standard she perceives for gay actors who take on gay roles.
“Zachary Quinto is out, and he stars in one of the biggest blockbuster franchises,” the 28-year-old said, referring to the Star Trek films. “I have four projects coming up – all gay roles. People ask if I’m concerned about getting pigeonholed. No one asks: ‘Ellen, you’ve done seven straight roles in a row – shouldn’t you shake it up and do something queer?’”
“There’s still that double standard. I look at all the things I’ve done in movies: I’ve drugged a guy, tortured someone, become a roller-derby star overnight. But now I’m gay, I can’t play a straight person?”
Her comments come after a six-year struggle to get Freeheld made, an experience that included coming out publicly herself.
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“What blows my mind is how my own personal journey paralleled the development of that movie. It felt wildly inappropriate to be playing this character as a closeted person.”
The reviews of the film have not been kind, which screenwriter Ron Nysawner said was a result of producers “de-gaying” the film, resulting in “cardboard characters and by-the-numbers drama.”
