‘It Would Be Good If…’: The Apprentice Star Jeremy Strong Weighs In On Straight Actors Getting Criticized For Playing Queer Roles

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As a seasoned moviegoer and connoisseur of acting performances, I find myself intrigued by the ongoing debate surrounding straight actors taking on gay roles, as exemplified in “The Apprentice” with Jeremy Strong portraying Roy Cohn. Having seen a multitude of movies spanning decades, I can attest to the fact that an actor’s ability to embody a character transcends their personal identity.

In the recent venture titled “The Apprentice”, filmmaker Ali Abbasi has garnered both positive accolades and negative comments. Meanwhile, actor Jeremy Strong, who is currently working on a biographical film featuring Donald Trump with Sebastian Stan, has brought up a significant concern within the Hollywood industry.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the actor portraying lawyer and political fixer Roy Cohn, identified as Strong, addressed the controversy surrounding straight actors playing gay roles. While acknowledging the ongoing discussion, he underscored that an actor’s capability to convincingly embody a character is the crucial factor in delivering a compelling performance.

The star from The Big Short also added that this happens to be an actor’s job and their task. 

In a different wording, Strong stated, “Although I believe it’s not essential for actors playing LGBTQ+ roles to be part of the community themselves, I do feel it could be beneficial to give such considerations more emphasis.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 actor also mentioned during the interview with the outlet that actors who play any random part in a movie should take their role seriously, just as they take their lives seriously. 

Acting out a character on-screen isn’t a form of play; it involves depicting their challenges and the real-life situations you aim to convey, which should never be treated as a toy or a mere pastime.

Before me, there was Jeremy Strong, who portrayed Roy Cohn in HBO’s version of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America. And before him, Al Pacino brought this character to life in the same series. Most recently, it’s been Will Brill who stepped into the shoes of this intriguing character in the miniseries Fellow Travelers.

For those who may not know, Roy Cohn served as a mentor to Donald Trump. Later on, he was stripped of his license to practice law due to his attempts to seize a terminally ill man’s wealth.

At the Cannes Film Festival on May 20th, The Apprentice made its debut, igniting intense discussions because of its depiction of Donald Trump during his youthful years. This film was penned by Gabriel Sherman, a writer for Vanity Fair.

The Trump campaign’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, announced they would respond to the obviously untrue claims made by these fictitious movie creators, as depicted in the film.

The Apprentice is set to release in theaters in the US on October 11.

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2024-10-09 15:38