Michael Urie talks about celebrity sexuality - George Clooney mention

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AE: I was looking at some past interviews that you’ve done and the whole sexuality thing comes up with actors and actresses and people always seem to want to know what to label people. I’m curious, why do you think everybody is so curious and obsessive about it? I know if I don’t ask – and sometimes I know I can’t depending on who I’m talking to – readers will comment with ‘Why didn’t you ask that?!’ So, what I want to ask is, why do you think we’re so fascinated with an actor’s sexuality?

MU: I don’t know. That’s a good question. I guess…well, I think it’s easy. It’s an easy question. It’s easy when somebody is known for playing straight roles but they are not romantically linked for whatever reason, it becomes a big question. You can Google almost anyone’s name and their name with ‘gay’ comes up. George Clooney, George Clooney Gay will come up. Which is weird to me. I think that there are some people that I think insist that anyone in the public eye must put their private life in the public eye…

AE: Like it’s part of the package.

MU: As part of the package, which I get, some people don’t. I struggle with whether or not sexual identity is private or public because, if we are to say that it is not a choice like being left or right handed, why would it be private? So, I don’t know. Honestly I don’t know.

I know that there was a period when I was being told and I wondered if my sexuality was public, would it affect my work? Then I realized that my sexuality being public would help my work actually. I’ve gotten to play so many great parts that are gay men. I wouldn’t give that up for the world at all. I certainly would never give up a great gay part for a lousy straight part So, I’m perfectly happy with where things are for me right now. But I wonder if certain other actors who might be known for their heterosexual sex appeal, if they were to come out as gay, if that would hurt them. The only times you see great actors who are known for their heterosexual sex appeal to come out as gay, they’ve already got a great heterosexual job.