Gay actor John Barrowman told by TV bosses to stay in the closet

[Ian David]

Gay Torchwood star John Barrowman has revealed his anger at being told by his bosses he should keep his sexuality a secret.

In his autobiography I Am What I Am, published today, he said he was warned early in his career he should pretend to be straight in order to achieve success.

Barrowman claimed a gay producer was sent by his bosses to give him the warning. He claimed the producer said: “John, we wondered if you really wanted to reveal that you’re gay? We think it might change how people feel about you.”

<snip>

Barrowman said he had received an apology over the incident but added: “One of my explicit missions as an entertainer is to work to create a world where no one will ever make a statement like this producer did to me to anyone who’s gay."

More:
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/09/28/gay-actor-john-barrowman-told-by-tv-bosses-to-stay-in-the-closet/

Hat-tip to: http://twitter.com/GayNewsFeed/statuses/4448218673

[closeupready]

1. That would just make me like him more.

Not less.

[roguevalley]

27. he is so damned cute. I love him. He had a special trying to find out

why he was gay. apparently the birth order and diminishing testerone in the mother or something counts.
Women have hands where their middle finger is longer than the rest and the fingers on each side are the same length. Straight men have fingers where I believe they are all or at least two of them are even length with the middle finger. Gay men tend to have finger lengths like women. Interesting observation by a researcher.

[xultar]

2. First. I love John. Second, he really showed that asshole. Third...

anyone hear about him coming to desperate housewives? I don't watch it now but I would watch just for him.

[Occulus]

8. Yeah, that last has me bummed a bit...

I just can't see him doing both DH and Torchwood, and I loves me some Torchwood.

What would be super-duper awesome? John Barrowman going to Warehouse 13 instead.

[Prophet 451]

19. Seen Children of Earth?

The way that ended, it's difficult to see how there will be any more Torchwood.

[Occulus]

28. There will be

via filmshaft.com:

Asked about a fourth season of “Torchwood”, Davies wouldn’t confirm any specifics but indicated the success of ‘Children of Earth’ means its a certainty and he sounded excited to be involved. Fans though hoping for the return of some previously deceased cast members should not hold out hope.

Cute. "Children" guaranteed the continuation of the series, but at the same time wiped out the cast. Lovely.

I'm pretty certain Rhys will become a member of Torchwood; he already knows too much and has proven himself useful besides. My guess is, he'll stay in the hub much of the time with whomever else they bring on.

[Prophet 451]

32. Oh gods, no!

If Torchwood turns into Gwen, Rhys and Andy, I'm officially resigning from the fandom.

[xultar]

35. Agreed. John made the serise in my opinion. I'm already mad that Ianto Jones

is gone.

[Prophet 451]

40. Agreed

I don't have a problem with characters dying but there's a difference between a character dying in a meaningful way that has lasting consequences (Tara in Buffy) and killing a character off for a cheap shock (Ianto).

That said, Gareth David Lloyd wanted to move on anyway so it may not have been exclusively RTD to blame.

[Pab Sungenis]

3. Ironically, back in the late 90's he lost a part

for being "not gay enough."

He was one of the last two actors up for the role of "Will" on "Will and Grace." He lost it to straight actor Eric McCormack because they felt Barrowman was too straight acting to be believed as a gay character.

[Occulus]

9. Now *THAT* is irony.

Tincture of irony.

[imdjh]

4. In the old days it might have mattered.

Back when there were only a handful of true leading men and big stars at any given years or handful of years, it might have mattered. Now, when I get in the grocery line and look at US, Soap, ENquirer, and People I have no idea who half those people are.

I first noticed the effect of population many years ago, like 40. I clearly remember walking down into the kitchen and saying to my mother, "Did you know that there are bands in New York, that have sold a million records, that we have never heard of?" I think I was talking about Blue Magic or Might Clouds of Joy or something similar. The idea that there were enough people in New York alone to have their own stars was amazing to me.

IN the same vein, I flip through the channels and have NO IDEA who most of those people are. I know the name Bernie Mac, but have no idea who he is. Reba Macintyre of course, but who the hell is Chelsea Lately? I know that Jerry Springer's body guard has his own show now, and feel a little sick that I know that. I can't name the cast of Desperate Housewives even though I watch it. I can't tell you the real name of the Scrubs guys and I love them. I can remember the name of the Croatian doctor on ER on a good day but Abby has been around forever and I can't tell you who she is.

[d_r]

5. I guess it doesn't matter

but isn't the character he plays on torchwood gay? I guess I don't get the produces saying "OK play this gay character, but don't tell anyone you are REALLY gay."

Or was this earlier in his career?

[Ian David]

6. His Torchwood character is an immortal bisexual atheist time traveler from outer space. n/t

[d_r]

7. well there you go

[Q3JR4]

11. Maybe

that's part of the reason I like watching it? :think:

Q3JR4
Yes.

[KatyaR]

18. I dare you to say that three times fast . . . .

:rofl:

[Occulus]

29. Not bisexual.

Omnisexual.

I think his character refers to himself this way at some point.

[Ian David]

34. Good point. His love doesn't recognize species boundaries either. n/t

[Occulus]

37. It's endemic among former Time Agents.

Remember the poodle?

[Prophet 451]

20. Torchwood character is complicated

Captain Jack Harkness is less gay and more omni-sexual. Including men, women, extra-dimensional lifeforms, aliens and possibly plants. That said, most of his on-screen romances have been same-sex (possibly for Barrowman's comfort?).

[donco6]

10. How can Torchwood not be over?

I mean, they killed everyone off in the miniseries.

[Ian David]

12. They could bring in fresh people or an alternate time line. n/t

[donco6]

13. Yeah, and Bobby Ewing could step out of the shower.

I'm not sure I see that happening, but OK. I was just really disgusted with the miniseries, so perhaps I'm biased.

[Behind the Aegis]

23. Torchwood approved for full fourth season

A Torchwood panel headlined by Russell T. Davies and John Barrowman was the last big event of Comic-Con International this year. While it didn't pack any huge revelations, it did come with good news for fans. The show will return for a full season in 2010.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/07/27/torchwood-approved-for-full-fourth-season-comic-con-report/

There is still some debate on the structure of the show and when it will start filming.

[donco6]

26. Yeah, I got some questions.

A) Jack killed a kid, albeit to save the world. But the Doctor would never have done it. And it lessened Jack in my eyes.

B) Ianto died in a stupid way.

C) The only person I kinda like anymore is Rhys.

D) If RTD doesn't care about his primary characters, why should I?

[Occulus]

31. Well, the Doctor would probably have figured the 456 out a lot sooner, too

Rose and the !Doctor are in a parallel universe, and Martha was presumably unavailable. To be fair to Jack, he did everything he could conceivably do, even before he understood the potential to create a feedback loop. It was a horrible, horrible choice, but by that time the only one possible. Had he caved to the 456, they would most certainly have been back in another generation, just like the junkies they are. He had to deal with them then and there.

I know for a fact there are things the Doctor has done that he is not at all proud of. I think he would understand Jack's actions in this case.

Ianto's death was a bit silly, so I hope they redeem that somehow (maybe they finally figure out how to make the glove work correctly)... it's not quite as bad as the way 'Stargate: Atlantis' got rid of Carson (an exploding tumor, if you can believe it), but it's close. I liked Ianto, dammit, and he was easy on my eyes, too. Fuckers.

I can't see any scenario wherein Rhys remains outside Torchwood at this point. He knows too much, and he's been too useful. With Jack temporarily gone, Gwen is not only in charge, but is in fact all of Torchwood Cardiff that remains. She's in charge, so she can finally tell Rhys everything she hasn't already told him. I fully expect Rhys to become a member of Torchwood in season 4, which has been apparently confirmed to go forward following the success of "Children".

Jack will be back in some way, as will Gwen, which also means Rhys. They only really need one more character, two at most.

[Occulus]

30. Jack could have a change of heart

and Gwen could threaten to leave entirely unless Rhys is brought on board.

Poof! Now you only need one new character. See how easy that is? :D

[Mimosa]

14. Perception of sexual orientation changes how women feel about male actors

In general unless bi or straight women (I'm bi) know that a male actor is straight or bi it's hard to 'buy' him as a hetero guy in a role. Some I've seen can convey attraction towards females. Richard Chamberlain could never carry off convincing romantic attraction towards a woman onscreen. Rock Hudson could. Ian McKellan...perhaps. Stephen Fry can just a little. Rupert Everett can convincingly play straight (I admire him a lot) but when he came out his career went down and so did his income. Kevin Spacey can sometimes come across convincingly straight, because he's a bit bisexual.

I'm a bi/androgynous female with gaydar which is usually about 97% accurate. I think it is best for actors to try to keep their private lives more private than is now fashionable. I'm not talking about sexuality in particular. Really good actors and directors I've known agree that it's best to keep oneself a bit mysterious so that the public doesn't think they know everything about one. The unknown facets contribute to the suspension of disbelief.

[dsc]

15. watch Weeds and tell me who the gay guy playing straight on there is

unless you know coming in, I bet you a ton you won't know coming out.

[Mimosa]

16. What channel is Weeds on and when? n/t

[dsc]

17. showtime

in hiatus now but on demand if you have that.

[Toasterlad]

38. That Would Be Hunter Parish.

I met ran into him walking down the sidewalk in NYC, when he was in town doing Spring Awakening. He was carrying a cane and wearing a bowler hat. I give the boy credit for being so open.

[dsc]

41. According to yahoo answers he isn't

but he isn't the guy I was referring to in any case. I happen to think he likely is gay but I was referring to an entirely different person who is officially openly gay.

[Toasterlad]

42. If He Isn't Gay, Then I'm Not.

But I understand him being professionally closeted for career purposes.

[dsc]

43. as do I

I think he is likely to become more open as he gets a bit older and finds that he is headed the Broadway route and not the big screen star route. I don't see him as the next Aston Kunster for example but more likely the next big Broadway star who does movies occassionally.

[Prophet 451]

21. The one in Torchwood just doesn't work

The writers tried to create UST (Unresolved Sexual Tension) between Captain Jack (Barrowman's character) and Gwen (Eve Myles) but it just doesn't work. There's zero chemistry there which is probably why they pretty much gave up early in season 2. Whether that's because Barrowman is gay or Myles's weaknesses as an actress is anyone's guess but it's just not convincing while his same-sex relationship with Ianto smoulders with chemistry.

[dsc]

24. Of course the guy who played Ianto is straight

so apparently that relationship could be acted.

[Prophet 451]

25. Yeah, I know

Maybe Barrowman genuinely finds Gareth David Llyod attractive (and he wouldn't be alone there), maybe Myles is a worse actress than I thought, Maybe it's just one of those weird things. *shrug* Who knows?

[xultar]

36. I don't think the UST worked because Jack and Ianto were involved and Gwen

was involved with Rhys and Ian...

That was just too much to have in conjunction with the UST between Gwen and Jack.

[Starry Messenger]

22. Good for him.

I think it's better when actors can be honest from the get-go. I don't think it has affected his popularity a bit from what I've seen.

[DCKit]

33. Me either. I think it's old news. Everyone knows, and he's still one of the biggest stars in Europe.

Setting an excellent example of what's "normal gay" for young people and making all the moms wish their sons were more like him.

I would think the story from his book is referencing a time when he was still trying to build his career.

[Meldread]

39. Good for him. I loved "Torchwood: Children of Earth".

I'm a sucker for dark drama and tragedy. Loved the ending, loved the characters, loved the conflict, and the twists in the plot. It was great. I also loved Jack, and when I found out he was gay in real life I loved it even more. Great actor.

I'm not sure how they're going to pull off doing another Torchwood, but if John Barrowman's there then so am I!

[sui generis]

44. I didn't read the quoted line as a warning

don't know the entire context but it seems like it could as easily have been interpreted as realistic advice (at the time it was given), not malicious.

I dunno sometimes we can be who we are without having to make everyone around us look callous or malicious.

[ki83760]

45. stupid bigots