Actress says acting LGBTQ roles is not bravery

joan

August 28, 2015 2:16 PM

The openly-gay actress tells TIME magazine, ''Maybe this is a bad thing to say, but I have a hard time when people call actors brave. I don’t really get that, because our job is to read something on a page."

Ellen Page

In an era where almost every recently released movie has a touch of homosexuality, actress Ellen Page says it's offensive when actors (straight) are called brave for playing LGBT (Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) people.

Speaking about her upcoming film - Freeheld - the openly-gay actress tells TIME magazine, ''Maybe this is a bad thing to say, but I have a hard time when people call actors brave. I don’t really get that, because our job is to read something on a page."

Page delves deeper when it’s noted since "there really aren’t many movies about LGBTQ people… it makes it more likely that actors are seemingly taking a career risk by appearing in one." She responds, "When people are [called] brave in regards to playing LGBTQ people, that’s borderline offensive. I’m never going to be considered brave for playing a straight person, and nor should I be."

Page went on to admit she'd be thrilled to exclusively play only ''gay characters'' going forward, "I have two [upcoming projects] that are… ‘gay.’ That’s even a pain to have to call it that, but it’s about two people of the same sex. I’m interested in these stories. Needless to say, I’m thrilled to play a character who’s heterosexual, if it speaks to me. But so when I get to sit in a theater and watch 'Blue Is the Warmest Color', what an utter joy that is because you’re getting to watch something that’s at least close to something you’ve experienced as a gay woman. It’s probably more selfish."

Page stars as the real-life Stacie Andree - in Freeheld - who, along with her terminally-ill partner Laurel Hester (portrayed by Julianne Moore), fought for equal benefits rights for gay couples.

joan