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<\/p>\nOut Actor Ben Whishaw \u2018Baffled\u2019 By Debate Over \u2018Gay Vs Straight\u2019 Casting<\/b><\/p>\n
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Out English actor <\/span>Ben Whishaw<\/span><\/a> has said he is baffled by the debate about gay<\/a> actors playing straight characters and vice versa.<\/span><\/p>\n Whishaw, who has played such characters as Q in James Bond film Skyfall<\/em> and poet John Keats in Bright Star<\/em>, told BT<\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n “With gay<\/a> characters being played by straight people, straight characters being played by gay<\/a> people, come on, we’re actors. I do not understand what the problem is. Actors play all sorts of things. I’ve played murderers, journalists and kings – I’m not any of them. The whole thing is a fiction, it’s about imagination, it’s play. I am baffled to why it’s such a big thing.<\/span><\/p>\n “And also, I’m baffled because it feels like we’re in a time where there are lots of gay<\/a> people, not just actors but in all walks of life, and let’s be where we are. We’re human beings and I don’t understand why it’s really a discussion now.”<\/span><\/p>\n Whishaw’s comments come after Matt Damon was forced to apologize<\/a> for suggesting that gay<\/a> actors would be best off keeping their sexuality a secret. <\/span><\/p>\n “The Matt Damon thing, it has probably been taken out of context but I don’t understand the heat around it. It feels like a story that’s trying to be drummed up, even though there are more important things we should be talking about.”<\/span><\/p>\n Damon later appeared on Ellen<\/em> to clarify<\/a> his comments.<\/p>\n Whishaw was speaking at a Bafta screening for his new TV show London Spy<\/em> (top photo).<\/em>He plays a character wh<\/span>o is drawn into the espionage world through his lover Alex, played by Edward Holcroft.<\/span><\/p>\n The series premieres on BBC2 next month.<\/span><\/p>\n Watch Damon’s appearance on Ellen<\/em> below.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The post Out Actor Ben Whishaw ‘Baffled’ By Debate Over ‘Gay Vs Straight’ Casting<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\nRELATED: Actor Ben Whishaw Confirms He’s Gay, Married To His Partner<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n