Are you upset when a straight actor plays a gay role?

It doesn't matter to me if they're gay or straight. Tom Hanks playing the lead in Philadelphia, was phenomenal - and he's straight. I think if he wasn't a capable actor, he wouldn't have been so convincing in that role. It's great to watch an accomplished actor in a new role that is different from prior characters they've portrayed. It's also nice to see famous people strike out and be so convincing in a new part, such as Farrah Fawcett (sp) in "Burning Bed" - who would've guessed she was a good actress that can do real characters and not be hyper focused on her hair and good looks? Up till that point, she was just a "Charlies Angel" married to the "Million Dollar Man". So if a straight guy can play the gay role or the gay guy can be the ladies man - if they're convincing, it's all good to me.

Maybe you should also ask what if a homosexual actor plays a straight role, like Rock Hudson in those Doris Day films, and women think that is what men really act like and being disappointed. I would suppose if a homosexual actor plays a homosexual role, he would give a more honest portrayal and also when he is off the set, any girls around would know that he is not good marriage material. But if a straight actor plays the role, well there might be the girl he was meant to be with for the rest of his life, and she would start to wonder. Also you would not have to you read those fliers at the checkout counter that asks what actor is? You would know.

I don't think it should really matter. I mean, isn't that just a form of discrimination too, to say you have to be the right orientation to play a role? I've seen gay actors play straight roles, straight actors play gay roles, and that's not even mentioning the bisexuals like me. :P I don't really care as long as the actor does a good job. It would only bother me if an actor played a gay role and then went out of their way to point out they weren't gay every time they were on tv for the rest of their lives or something, just to distance themselves from it.

I've never reall payed to much attention as to who is gay and who is straight in hollywood. I dont see what the problem is though, they are actors, they are getting payed to portray the lives of someone they arent. If they cant do that then we might as well stop watching TV and movies.

I really hate it when my favorite male actor plays a gay role. But it is in playing that role too where we can say the that actor is a very talented actor. I think it's tough playing someone your not. Just my idea anyway.

i guess not. if the right actor is chosen for the part than that is great. surely the best actor gets the part, not his sexuality? is that not being racist giving it to a homosexual because he is homosexual? Did you know the charactor of 'red' in "the shawshank redemption" is a white irishman? hense the name red. (his hair) but having morgan freeman does not hinder the film one bit! just a drunken observation!

I think there are enough gay actors BUT how many of them are "out" in order to go for the role ya know...Many are still very much in the closet unfortunately....In all honesty a straight actor playing a gay role doesnt upset me in fact I think that more often than not they do a great job which is IMO almost a show of respect (for lack of a better term) to the gay community...

I'm also straight so maybe I shouldn't be giving my opinion but I wouldn't think it would tick them off because actors usually hate being "type-cast". Also, unfortunately there really aren't that many actors who are openly gay although it's a little bit more open than it was back in Rock Hudson's day. To me a gay playing a straight or a straight playing a gay isn't any different than say a liberal playing a conservative (i.e. Alan Alda or Rob Lowe) or any other role actors play that are totally out of character for them personally. That's why they call it acting, I guess. Annie

not at all, that is where you can test how good actor he is if he can pass as a gay on a role in a movie. i like wesley snipes at to wong fu.

nope I'm always impressed when they can pull it off Robin WIlliams was believable in that role in Spiderman or something

Actually I never paid attention one way or another until they had the Rock play a gay person in the movie Be Cool. On top of being stupid it made me mad for a second that they portrayed my favorite actor as gay.

No it doesn't upset me. I mean if that doesn't trouble them... I know they are a lot of gay actor who would want the role but the same case is when gays play straight people. Like George in Grey's Anatomy. I mean wouldn't every young actor have wanted his role? And specially now when the show is so popular.

Not at all.I'm straight.Maybe I can't understand the true feelings of a gay. To me,actor show their"professional skills"in the film,not their own nature.Straight actors are likely to let other straight people feel the love between gays because they know the thoughts of an ordinary person better than the gay actor.They provide an opportunity to straight people understand gay.And that do make sense.