There is no reason why straight actors should be barred from playing gay characters, according to showbiz legend Christopher Biggins.
He was commenting on remarks made by the US actor Rebel Wilson who said that it is “total nonsense” to say that only gay actors should play gay roles.
Biggins told GB News: “I get so angry about this because acting is acting…we can play anything. If you're a good enough actor, you could play anything.
“I sometimes play a woman and I’m rather good at it. I’ve been so many different things, it really angers me.
“I played in Poldark a sex-crazed vicar. It was wonderful, he was the most hated man on television that year.
“It was divine and, of course, I’ve played quite a few straight men and I’ve played gay people too.
“As an actor, you could play anything…”
Asked if a white actor could play Othello, he said: “Well, Laurence Olivier did. You couldn't do it today.
“It's not a good thing, I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but I do think the actors should have the opportunity to do whatever they want.
“Nowadays, of course, you get men playing Juliet…
“People want to find different ways of doing different things all the time and that's fine, but don't preclude people like gay people only having to play gay parts.”
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