"I'm taken by gay characters not having to be noble, flawless or setting a good example, instead behaving in ways that are ambiguous, morally dubious, ambivalent. Messy, that's intriguing."
"There were very few gay actors who were out when I started and so being out didn't seem like a sustainable position to be in. But now it kind of is sustainable, but, actually, it opens up so many questions I have for myself."
"The actor confessed that his public visibility remains a constant inner conflict. He revealed he still holds onto the belief that his sexuality is "nobody's business," and that he often uses fashion as "armour" and "camouflage" to blend in, rather than stand out."
Ben Whishaw began his career when very few gay actors were publicly out, making openness feel unsustainable. Being openly gay now feels more sustainable but also raises new personal questions about visibility and identity. Whishaw plays photographer Peter Hujar, known for candid black-and-white images that captured the early gay liberation movement and figures such as John Waters and Divine. Whishaw values portrayals of gay characters who are ambiguous, morally complex and messy rather than noble or flawless. He continues to regard his sexuality as a private matter and often uses fashion as armour and camouflage to blend in.
Read at PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news
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