‘Gay leading men would lack the same opportunities’: Jared Leto
Image: 'Suicide Squad' star Jared Leto has commented on how gay actors are treated in Hollywood.
HOLLYWOOD won’t allow gay leads the same opportunities as their straight counterparts, according to actor Jared Leto.
The controversial star made the comments in a revealing interview with GQ, while on the press junket for his latest film Suicide Squad, where he steps into the shoes of the villainous Joker with a decidedly different interpretation.
“I definitely don’t think a gay leading man would have the same opportunities as a straight leading man,” Leto said.
“I don’t think that. Not for a single second.
“I don’t know if that’s offensive or not, but that’s my thought right now.”
In recent years Leto has made a name for himself in Hollywood as leading man material with strong takes on interesting characters.
He won an Oscar for his role in Dallas Buyers Club, playing a trans character named Rayon. LGBTI advocates had been critical that he was taking a high profile role that could have gone to a trans actress.
The actor didn’t think that the lack of opportunities was fair, but put it down to being a reality of the industry.
“It shouldn’t be that way. I don’t think you’ll have as many opportunities. And I think you could say the same for minorities,” Leto said.
“Anyway, no, I think that this is still a very conservative business.”
There are many out actors working in Hollywood today and whether their sexualities impact their careers has been a point of much discussion. Rupert Everett has been quoted more than once stating his belief that being gay has stifled his career, while others have dismissed it as essentially a non-issue.
Leto believed that Americans would accept a gay lead in films, though — or he hoped they would at the very least.
Suicide Squad is now playing in cinemas across Australia.
