Neil Patrick Harris says ‘there’s something sexy about a straight actor playing a gay role’
The star plays a gay tailor in Russell T Davies' new Channel 4 drama It's A Sin
Words: Jamie Tabberer; picture: Channel 4
Neil Patrick Harris has said there’s “something sexy” about straight actors playing gay roles.
The Tony Award-winner plays a gay tailor in new Channel 4 LGBTQ drama It’s A Sin, which also features Years & Years singer Olly Alexander and showbiz veteran Stephen Fry.
His comments follow the show’s creator Russell T Davies recently speaking out on the importance of casting gay actors in gay roles.
“I played a character in How I Met Your Mother who was nothing like me”
Speaking in an interview with The Times, Neil said: “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.
“There’s a nervousness that comes from the newness of it all. To declare that you’d never do that, you might miss opportunities.”
The star – who famously played a straight man on How I Met Your Mother – added: “As an actor you certainly hope you can be a visible option for all kinds of different roles. I played a character [in HIMYM] for nine years who was nothing like me.”
As a director, he adds he would “definitely want to hire the best actor.”
Neil married David Burtka, with whom he has two kids, in 2014.
To read our 5/5 review of It’s A Sin, click here.
It’s A Sin premiere this Friday 22 January at 9pm on Channel 4. All episodes will be available to watch as a boxset on 4OD immediately afterwards.
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