Matt Bomer says ‘The Normal Heart’ changed his life
By Josh Haggis
Matt Bomer has discussed his experience working on television film The Normal Heart.
The HBO production – which also stars Mark Ruffalo and Julia Roberts – is set in New York City in the early 1980s at the onset of the HIV-AIDS epidemic, and is based on Larry Kramer’s 1985 play of the same name.
In an interview with Out this month, the 36-year-old discussed his desire to win the role, saying: “You’re really lucky as an artist if you get a role that changes you as a person.
“It taught me how to access myself on a completely different level as an artist. And it blew my mind in terms of the level of unconditional love between Ned and Felix – my goodness, if these people could incorporate this into their lives, under their circumstances, why can’t I?”
Director Ryan Murphy also discussed Bomer’s weight loss for the film, saying: “I think Matt felt the ghosts. I think he felt all the shame and humiliation and degradation of all those brothers who have died of AIDS. It was a very beautiful, spiritual thing to witness.”
Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons, Alfred Molina and Looking’s Jonathan Groff also star in the HBO film. Glee and American Horror Story‘s Ryan Murphy directed from Kramer’s script.
The Normal Heart debuts May 25 on HBO. The film will air on Sky Atlantic in the UK at a later date.
> Watch full-length trailer for HBO’s ‘The Normal Heart’
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