Straight Actors Playing Homosexual Roles

[boricualesbian1975]

[FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"][SIZE="3"] I have a curiosity, a question that has been lingering in my mind. I am a lesbian and I watch a lot of lesbian movies and a few episodes of the L Word. The majority of the women who play the roles of the lesbians in these shows are technically straight, yet they are so convincing in these movies. I know they are actors, it is their job to pretend, I just don’t get how they can perform the love scenes and kiss; I mean they really get into it, without having a desire, a curiosity, or something for members of the same sex. Hey, even straight guys have done it; look at Brokeback Mountain and Torch Song Trilogy. Are they actually bisexual and only have more of a tendency towards members of the opposite sex? Or are they just really great actors? I mean I know heterosexuals (guys and girls) who feel physically ill at the thought of performing any kind of homosexual act, even kissing. In some of my conversations with heterosexuals, who know me and are cool with my being a lesbian, they are just like NO, NO, NO WAY!! I guess I am technically bisexual with a really big tendency towards women. Being with a guy, although something I am not interested at all at this point in my life, does not make me physically ill. So my question is, for all of those straight actors and actresses who play homosexual roles, that is, roles that involve actual sexual contact with members of the same sex, bring themselves to do it? It is one thing to play a role as a homosexual and not actually have to do any romantic or sexual scenes, it is a different level entirely to actually kiss and touch someone of the same sex when there is no way you can be into it, especially if you are trying to come across as convincing. So how to you all do it? Meditation? Get drunk? Do you say “I think I can” over and over? How do you do it without wanting to puke?

[Russjns]

That is an interesting post. I think the majority of the time you are playing roles, you are portraying somebody you are not. What about someone who has to rape? Or Kill? (To be true to the piece, you must fill up with an emotional life that is relatable to that character) When it comes to being sexually attracted to the same sex, I would say that it is still, at it's core, being sexually attracted to "someone". You KNOW how it feels to be sexually attracted to someone, so you just place that attraction on your scene partner; man or woman.

Personally, I'm just as nervous having to kiss a woman, as I am a man. It is a different kind of nervousness, but I'm married with a child, and having to kiss ANYONE besides my wife is just wierd.

I'm not sure why people would want to throw up by kissing someone of the same sex. Lips are lips. Also, when the filming/performance is over, it doesn't mean you are now defined by your performance and must remain gay or straight...so it's a little odd, to me, to have a big issue with it....especially if the story you are telling is a good one!

Just my opinion.

[Billy1970]

To quote Sanford Meisner here..."Acting is the ability to live truthfully under the given imaginary circumstances."

As far as doing a homoerotic scene, the actors just do it. If they have such a strong aversion to homosexual contact that they become physically ill, they simply won't get the part. But, this is much the same as someone who would become ill at the thought of doing violence, being naked in public or giving speeches. In short, it's just acting.

By way of example, I worked on an unfortunately (in my opinion) short lived sitcom called "Courting Alex" and there was a scene where the lead actress had a romantic moment with her 'boyfriend'. I remember when I saw the scene play, I thought to myself "man, I'd love it if a woman would look at me that way...wow" and then the director called cut.

She turned that love off like a lightswitch.

But, she's a pro. As such, we watch her act because she can make the imaginary come to life and she does it so well she even had me going...and I was working on the show at the time! The same holds true for the straight actors playing homosexual roles...they're professionals and they're good at what they do.

Great question by the by, hope this helps!

[Malka]

This really is an interesting question, and was worthy of asking.

Personally, I can't say what I'd do in that situating, since I'm straight. But I do happen to know that on your resume AND on application forms to be in a production, they ask if you're okay with doing sexual scenes; and if they didn't, they would tell you or ask you beforehand.

I mean, the director wouldn't just yell out "CUT! OH AND BY THE WAY; YOU HAVE TO MAKE OUT WITH A WOMAN." unless he was a manipulative prick.

Well, I hope my input helped you; and thanks for asking, it really made a lot of people think.