By Alastair James
Copyright thepinknews
Ben Whishaw has been reflecting on his early career, saying it was not “sustainable” to be an out gay actor.
The British actor, who voices the much-loved Peruvian bear in the Paddington films, has been promoting his latest movie, Peter Hujar’s Day, in which he plays the real-life gay photographer, best-known for his often candid black-and-white shots works in the 70s and 80s, which in particular captured the early days of the gay liberation movement.
Among those he photographed were filmmaker John Waters and drag queen Divine.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Whishaw said: “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.”
@pinknews Ben Whishaw has spoken about the pressure on queer actors when he started out, stating that being out didn’t seem like a “sustainable position.” “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. #benwhishaw #comingout #gay #thisisgoingtohurt #lgbtqia ♬ Serious piano and strings, the end(973959) – 8.864
Also known as Q in the Bond films, and for performances on TV in A Very English Scandal and London Spy, the star also looked back at his early career and recognised how things have changed.
“There were very few gay actors who were out when I started, so being out didn’t seem like a sustainable position to be in,” he said. “Now it kind of is sustainable but, actually, it opens up so many questions I have for myself because part of me still thinks that it is nobody’s business.”
Peter Hujar’s Day, based on a book by Linda Rosenkrantz, played by Rebecca Hall in the film, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January and was directed by Ira Sachs, who worked with Whishaw on 2023 gay drama Passages.
Hujar was a contemporary of beat poet Allen Ginsberg and writer Susan Sontag. He died in 1987, at the age of 53, just months after being diagnosed with Aids.
Peter Hujar’s Day is set to open in the US on 7 November. No other release dates have been given.
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