|
When Rupert Everett came out in 1989 people scarcely cared. "For the longest time I never thought I'd have a career in the States, so coming out really didn't matter."
Today, he's Hollywood's first publicly gay leading man, counting among his co-stars Madonna, Julia Roberts and Gwyneth Paltrow. |
|
Not so long ago the foppish British actor was playing opposite an orang-utan. In spite of kicking off with so much expectation, Everett's career seemed for many years, if not all washed up, then out to sea.
After struggling as an apprentice actor (making ends meet by becoming a rent boy), Everett landed a breakthrough role in the screen version of Another Country in 1984 and was hailed a rising star. However, following a few tussles with the tabloids and some high profile hissy fits - such as sending a disgruntled theatregoer a sample of his pubic hair - Everett's prospects went on the slide. His film career remained pretty much in the doldrums for the next ten years until he put in a critically acclaimed performance in The Madness of King George in 1994. Two years later he got his second big break. But the role responsible for resurrecting Everett's career was almost denied him. The part of Julia Roberts' gay confidante in My Best Friend's Wedding was considered "too right" for Everett. Too right, it seemed, because the actor was actually gay. Everett was eventually cast, the film was a smash, and the actor's been on the up and in demand ever since. Recent credits include Shakespeare in Love, An Ideal Husband and The Next Best Thing. Acknowledging his status as Hollywood's first out gay film star, Everett's said: "I'm very happy I'm at the forefront of something but I'm not going to become some ranting politician. That's not what I am. If I had to wear a banner and had to write something on it, I would be writing 'actor', not 'homosexual'." |
|