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Ben Whishaw Reflects on Early Career Challenges as Gay Actor, Says Being Out Wasn't "Sustainable" When He Started
READ TIME: 16 MIN.
British actor Ben Whishaw has offered a candid reflection on the challenges gay actors faced in Hollywood during the early stages of their careers, revealing that being openly gay was not considered a "sustainable position" when he first entered the industry.
The 44-year-old actor, beloved for voicing Paddington Bear and portraying Q in the James Bond franchise, made these comments while promoting his latest film "Peter Hujar's Day," in which he plays the real-life gay photographer known for capturing the early days of the gay liberation movement through his black-and-white photography in the 1970s and 80s .
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Whishaw acknowledged the significant changes the entertainment industry has undergone regarding LGBTQ+ representation and acceptance. "There were very few gay actors who were out when I started, so being out didn't seem like a sustainable position to be in," he explained. "Now it kind of is sustainable but, actually, it opens up so many questions I have for myself because part of me still thinks that it is nobody's business" .
The actor's comments highlight the complex relationship many LGBTQ+ performers have with public visibility and personal privacy. Despite the industry's progress, Whishaw revealed that his public visibility remains a constant inner conflict, as he still holds onto the belief that his sexuality is fundamentally private .
Whishaw, who came out publicly in 2014, has previously spoken about the fear he experienced around coming out. In discussing his role in the film "Lilting," where his character struggles with coming out before his death, Whishaw identified with the experience: "I had a lot of fear in doing it for a long time... But it takes courage and people have to do it in their own time, which is a negotiation you see happening in the film" .
In his latest role as photographer Peter Hujar, Whishaw expressed his attraction to portraying complex, morally ambiguous characters rather than idealized representations of gay men. "I'm taken by gay characters not having to be noble, flawless or setting a good example, instead behaving in ways that are ambiguous, morally dubious, ambivalent. Messy, that's intriguing," he told The Sunday Times .
This perspective reflects a broader evolution in LGBTQ+ representation in media, moving away from tokenistic or overly sanitized portrayals toward more authentic, multifaceted characters that reflect the full spectrum of human experience.
Peter Hujar, the subject of Whishaw's latest film, was a significant figure in documenting gay culture and the early AIDS crisis through his photography. Among his notable subjects were filmmaker John Waters and drag queen Divine. Hujar died in 1987 at age 53, just months after being diagnosed with AIDS .
Whishaw's personal journey has been marked by both public milestones and private struggles. He entered a civil partnership with composer Mark Bradshaw in 2012 after meeting on the set of "Bright Star." However, the couple separated in 2022 .
More recently, there have been reports linking Whishaw romantically to actor Kadiff Kirwan, his co-star from the BBC drama "This Is Going to Hurt." The pair were spotted together at Margate Pride, and Kirwan has referred to Whishaw as his "other half" on a podcast, though both have maintained a low-key approach to their relationship .
Whishaw has also been vocal about the importance of authentic casting in LGBTQ+ roles. While praising Eddie Redmayne's performance in "The Danish Girl," he noted the ongoing debate about cisgender actors playing transgender characters. "I think Eddie did a beautiful job, and it's done. Going forward, there will be other films in which the role is given to someone who lived that experience. Why shouldn't a role like that be given to someone who knows, inside, what the character is?" .
He extended this perspective to gay roles as well, stating: "I feel the same, sometimes, about straight actors playing gay parts. I'm critical if I don't think the performance is, from my subjective experience, accurate. I might think, 'I don't believe you!' And even a small moment of hesitation or inauthenticity will block my engagement with the whole story" .
Interestingly, Whishaw revealed that he often uses fashion as "armour" and "camouflage" to blend in rather than stand out, reflecting his complex relationship with public visibility and his desire to maintain some level of privacy despite his celebrity status .
"Peter Hujar's Day," based on a book by Linda Rosenkrantz and also starring Rebecca Hall, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January. The film was directed by Ira Sachs, who previously worked with Whishaw on the 2023 gay drama "Passages." The film is set to open in the United States on November 7, though no other release dates have been announced .
Whishaw's reflections come at a time when the entertainment industry continues to grapple with questions of representation, authenticity, and the balance between public visibility and personal privacy for LGBTQ+ performers. His career trajectory – from a time when being openly gay was seen as career suicide to his current status as a respected actor who can choose complex, meaningful roles – illustrates both the progress made and the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in entertainment.
The actor's willingness to discuss these challenges openly contributes to important conversations about the evolution of LGBTQ+ representation in Hollywood and the ongoing need for authentic storytelling that reflects the full complexity of queer experiences. As he continues to take on roles that challenge stereotypes and explore the nuanced realities of LGBTQ+ life, Whishaw remains an important voice in the ongoing dialogue about visibility, authenticity, and representation in entertainment.
