Gay actors playing straight parts and vice versa

[Slypork]

I’m not sure if this should stay in Café because it is related to acting or in some other forum but here goes:
How do actors comfortably perform parts that are counter to their sexual orientation? Rock Hudson with Doris Day or Susan St. James (multiple times), Heath Ledger with Jake Gyllenhall in Brokeback Mountain, T. R. Knight with Sara Ramirez in Grey’s Anatomy, etc?

I realize they are acting but isn’t there some level of repulsion to overcome? I’m a heterosexual male and do not find the idea of kissing another man at all appealing. Actually, the thought of actually doing it is a little disgusting to me. Please do not take this to mean I am homophobic. It just means I’m not turned on by guys, just like I’m not turned on by women with whips or doing dress-up fantasy acts with my wife.

So, what do the actors do to overcome the feelings? Do they think, “OK, I’ll just pretend it’s a really hairy girl?” or, “I’ll just close my eyes and think of Fred.” Do actors ever turn down roles because the parts require them to perform homosexual/heterosexual acts? Does this cause them problems?

If the mods think this should be moved, please feel free.

[Skammer]

It's just, as you said, acting. I did a lot of community theater when I was younger and although I never had to kiss another guy, I kissed several women that I was in no way attracted to. And kissed them quite convincingly ;-)

Actors do all kinds of things in a role that they would never do in real life. It becomes kind of dissociative: you become your character, and you can suppress (or forget) that you're "really" heterosexual. Or whatever it is about the character that isn't really you.

[Otto]

I would imagine that many of them think "If I kiss this guy/gal I get paid lots and lots of lovely money."

[Fiver]

Actually, the thought of actually doing it is a little disgusting to me. Please do not take this to mean I am homophobic. It just means I’m not turned on by guys, just like I’m not turned on by women with whips or doing dress-up fantasy acts with my wife.

So, to accept the comparison, are we to assume you find the thought of "women with whips or doing dress-up fantasy acts" disgusting as well?

[Fiver]

I would imagine that many of them think "If I kiss this guy/gal I get paid lots and lots of lovely money."

And money knows no sexual orientation! $3 bills excepted.

[Slypork]

So, to accept the comparison, are we to assume you find the thought of "women with whips or doing dress-up fantasy acts" disgusting as well?Yes. I am totally turned off by BDSM (not by SDMB, though). Pain and humiliation are not erotic to me. And the idea of dressing up as the shepherd boy while my wife is the milkmaid seems silly, not sexy. Everyone has their turn-ons and kissing a guy is not one of mine.

I had been in high school and community theater plays and had to kiss a few girls along the way but it was still kissing a girl. The thought of kissing a guy is just gross to me. Again, YMMV. If you are guy who likes kissing guys, more power to you. It’s just not my cup of tea.

[RealityChuck]

IIRC, Peter Finch was asked the question after appearing in Sunday Bloody Sunday in 1971 (when two men kissing was even more shocking than it is today). He said something like, "I closed my eyes and thought of England."

Interestingly, the IMDB says that Ian Bannen was first cast in the role, but was so nervous about the idea that he couldn't concentrate and was fired. That's one reason why you've probably heard of Peter Finch as an actor, and why you probably haven't heard of Ian Bannen.

But it's an actor's job to pretend. And pretending to kiss another man is no different than, say, pretending to be Adolph Hitler in a historical film.

[pizzabrat]

Yes. I am totally turned off by BDSM (not by SDMB, though). Pain and humiliation are not erotic to me. And the idea of dressing up as the shepherd boy while my wife is the milkmaid seems silly, not sexy. Everyone has their turn-ons and kissing a guy is not one of mine.

He didn't ask whether or not you were turned on by those things, he asked if you were disgusted - that's what makes it a valid comparison.

And yes of course straight actors turn down roles for that reason.

[MrSquishy]

And money knows no sexual orientation! $3 bills excepted.Ha! :D Well done.

[Antinor01]

Almost any actor will tell you that when they are in one of those kissing or sex scenes, it has absolutely nothing to do with being attracted to each other. It's just a job and between all the makeup, the lights, the crew, the director telling you what to do...there is no romantic or sexual componant in virtually every case. Whether it's guy on guy, guy on girl or whatever, it's just a job.

I've heard of actors turning down roles with same sex romantic scenes because they were afraid of the public perception of them or that it could hurt future career opportunities, not because they had some personal revulsion to those scenes.

I had been in high school and community theater plays and had to kiss a few girls along the way but it was still kissing a girl. The thought of kissing a guy is just gross to me. Again, YMMV. If you are guy who likes kissing guys, more power to you. It’s just not my cup of tea.

Sounds to me like acting is not really what you're suited for if you are unable to seperate yourself from the character you are portraying. (This is only my opinion based on the above quote)

[Carnick]

Do they think, “OK, I’ll just pretend it’s a really hairy girl?”
In essence, yes. One basic acting technique is to associate your actions with something you know. So if your character needs to kiss someone, think of your crush. If your character needs to cry over a death, imagine that your mother just died, etc. Of course this is only a basic technique and wouldn't work with Brokeback Mountain, because the characters would be missing the fear behind their lust. A good amount of disgust was probably healthy for that role.

[WhyNot]

I had been in high school and community theater plays and had to kiss a few girls along the way but it was still kissing a girl. The thought of kissing a guy is just gross to me. Again, YMMV. If you are guy who likes kissing guys, more power to you. It’s just not my cup of tea.
And you're probably not alone, statistically speaking. And there are probably a lot of actors who agree with you. And those actors don't take parts that require them to do intimate scenes outside their orientation. The actors you mention are, while straight, obviously not overwhelmingly repulsed at the idea of kissing a man. But the majority of roles don't involve kissing anyone at all, and you can certainly make a career as an actor while staying in your comfort zone.

Why is this hard to understand?

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

So, what do the actors do to overcome the feelings? Do they think, “OK, I’ll just pretend it’s a really hairy girl?” or, “I’ll just close my eyes and think of Fred.” Do actors ever turn down roles because the parts require them to perform homosexual/heterosexual acts? Does this cause them problems?
Plenty of actors turn down roles they aren't comfortable doing. And some of those don't get any work anymore because it's always easy to find someone who will do the work.

"Okay, I'll pretend it's a really hairy girl" is ridiculous. Any actor who has been working well with a director has learned how to get into the head of the character they are portraying. It would be counterintuitive to the performance if they "pretended it's somebody else." They are probably too busy trying to realistically be the person who wants to kiss the other character. Days and days, of preperation goes into assuming the role of a character. The actor is probably concentrating so much on the nuances of his/her performance, that "Ew, I utterly despise my co-star" is probably way down on the list of things running through his/her head at the time.

Kissing someone is just a technical part of a performance. If you're headspace is still way back at "Oh, yuck, I'm kissing a dude," then really, your understanding of the role and your level of performance is probably really poor.

My buddy's girlfriend had a love scene in her last indie flick. She said that the job requires you to get used to doing things that you would normally do: physically, emotionally, and intelectually. She you don't really think about it after awhile because you're just to damn busy being someone else.

[Slypork]

He didn't ask whether or not you were turned on by those things, he asked if you were disgusted - that's what makes it a valid comparison.

And yes of course straight actors turn down roles for that reason. To clarify, I am disgusted at the thought of me doing it. If someone else likes it, fine. Not my bag, baby.

I couldn’t eat a live bug although some people do it all the time (I’m not just talking about Fear Factor but certain cultures think nothing of it and consider it a delicacy). I am disgusted by graphic violence in movies but some people love Saw and movies of that sort. Some people find oral sex disgusting because of smell, taste, whatever. Some people love broccoli or liver and the thoughts of those things makes me nauseous. Everyone has their own levels of acceptance. I couldn’t kiss a guy. Does that make me wrong or homophobic? Hell, no! It makes me a human with my own particular likes and dislikes.

Almost any actor will tell you that when they are in one of those kissing or sex scenes, it has absolutely nothing to do with being attracted to each other. It's just a job and between all the makeup, the lights, the crew, the director telling you what to do...there is no romantic or sexual componant in virtually every case. Whether it's guy on guy, guy on girl or whatever, it's just a job.

I've heard of actors turning down roles with same sex romantic scenes because they were afraid of the public perception of them or that it could hurt future career opportunities, not because they had some personal revulsion to those scenes.



Sounds to me like acting is not really what you're suited for if you are unable to seperate yourself from the character you are portraying. (This is only my opinion based on the above quote)I enjoyed the plays I was in and had a blast doing them. But if you were told to eat dog shit like they did in Pink Flamingos could you do it because it was a part and you were an actor?

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

She said that the job requires you to get used to doing things that you would normally do: physically, emotionally, and intelectually. She you don't really think about it after awhile because you're just to damn busy being someone else. :smack: Dammit, that was "You get used to doing things you wouldn't normally do."

Bascially, she said you start thinking of your body as a tool for the art form (acting).

So many of your personal preferences and boundaries take a backseat to the integrity of the artwork in which you're participating. You're too busy getting the job done (of portraying another individual.)

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

I enjoyed the plays I was in and had a blast doing them. But if you were told to eat dog shit like they did in Pink Flamingos could you do it because it was a part and you were an actor? :dubious: Excuse me, but are you comparing kissing someone of the same gender to eating shit?

[Otto]

You know, I'm getting less and less comfortable with the comparisons of kissing members of the same sex to eating bugs and feces...

[WhyNot]

To clarify, I am disgusted at the thought of me doing it. If someone else likes it, fine. Not my bag, baby.

I couldn’t eat a live bug although some people do it all the time (I’m not just talking about Fear Factor but certain cultures think nothing of it and consider it a delicacy). I am disgusted by graphic violence in movies but some people love Saw and movies of that sort. Some people find oral sex disgusting because of smell, taste, whatever. Some people love broccoli or liver and the thoughts of those things makes me nauseous. Everyone has their own levels of acceptance. I couldn’t kiss a guy. Does that make me wrong or homophobic? Hell, no! It makes me a human with my own particular likes and dislikes.
Yeah, I think we got that. No one has suggested you even might be homophobic except for you. A few times. Careful, or we'll slide right into "doth protest too much" territory.

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

Hell, no! It makes me a human with my own particular likes and dislikes. Precisely, but an actor who is very competent as his/her craft has learned how to assume the psyche of someone else and can ignore their own preferences because they are taking on the physical requirements of the role.

Your question has been answered. An actor's body is the tool they use for their artform. They learn how to extend themselves beyond their own personal preferences and boundaries.

[UntouchedTakeaway]

I’m not sure if this should stay in Café because it is related to acting or in some other forum but here goes:
How do actors comfortably perform parts that are counter to their sexual orientation? Rock Hudson with Doris Day or Susan St. James (multiple times), Heath Ledger with Jake Gyllenhall in Brokeback Mountain, T. R. Knight with Sara Ramirez in Grey’s Anatomy, etc?

I realize they are acting but isn’t there some level of repulsion to overcome? I’m a heterosexual male and do not find the idea of kissing another man at all appealing. Actually, the thought of actually doing it is a little disgusting to me. Please do not take this to mean I am homophobic. It just means I’m not turned on by guys, just like I’m not turned on by women with whips or doing dress-up fantasy acts with my wife.

So, what do the actors do to overcome the feelings? Do they think, “OK, I’ll just pretend it’s a really hairy girl?” or, “I’ll just close my eyes and think of Fred.” Do actors ever turn down roles because the parts require them to perform homosexual/heterosexual acts? Does this cause them problems?

If the mods think this should be moved, please feel free.

I often wonder what was going through Rock Hudson's mind on the set of "Pillow Talk". I'd go in to detail, but I don't know how to do spoiler tags (I suck). Suffice it to say the scene in the piano bar had to have made him uncomfortable.

VCNJ~

[Jake]

Sorry, but to me it just brings up disgust. I'm a man, was born that way. I just DON'T want to watch two men kissing. But then, I could never be an actor.

[Fiver]

He didn't ask whether or not you were turned on by those things, he asked if you were disgusted - that's what makes it a valid comparison.


I asked that, yes, but I am not a "he," thanks.

[Antinor01]

I enjoyed the plays I was in and had a blast doing them. But if you were told to eat dog shit like they did in Pink Flamingos could you do it because it was a part and you were an actor?

Ignoring for the moment that the two things are not in the slightest comparable, no I would not do it mainly because there are serious health risks in ingesting feces. Cite from the CDC (http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000701-d000800/d000752/d000752.html)

[Slypork]

Good god. I asked a question about how an actor could perform a part that would go against what they normally would consider repulsive. I wanted to get an insight into their mindset and what they do to prepare for the role. I wanted to know if some actors turn down certain roles because they just can’t overcome their personal feelings about the act they have to perform. I gave examples about some things that other people are able to do that I think are disgusting and I’m being attacked. The Pink Flamingos comparison is relevant because there is no way in hell that I can imagine eating dog shit just for a movie role. There is no amount of mental exercises, imagery or fantasizing that could make me want to do it. The fact that some actors can do it speaks volumes for their acting ability (or their lack of taste buds). I also said I don’t like liver and broccoli. I must be the most awful person on earth.

To those of you who responded with constructive and informative responses, such as Skammer, RealityChuck and Carnick, thank you. You have given me some interesting insight. I never went beyond the community theater because I just did it for fun, not as a career, and I wanted an idea of how the professionals did it.

To those of you who fixated on my examples…never mind.

I’m going to ask the mods to lock this thread because some people are too easily offended.

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

Sorry, but to me it just brings up disgust. I'm a man, was born that way. I just DON'T want to watch two men kissing. But then, I could never be an actor.
Valid point. You also probably couldn't be a dancer if you have very rigid boundaries about personal space because dancers have to touch each other. Fair enough.

The OP asks "Isn't there a level of revulsion they have to overcome?" Answer: "revulsion" is highly subjective, and someone trained to set aside their own preferences and boundaries could get past it.

Some people couldn't get past it, and they probably wouldn't enter into a profession where it would come up.

[WhyNot]

I think the problem is that your title and your posts keep fixating on the gay thing.

Much better had you said, "I'm sure that most actors are, sooner or later, called upon to do things within their roles that they find distasteful or against their character. How do nice people play thugs? How do women who are champions of women's rights play battered prostitutes or abused wives? How do nice men play abusive husbands and pimps? How do people with no children play parents? How to people eat things against their usual diets, like bugs or even dogshit? How do people convincingly kiss or simulate sex with people they're not attracted to? What makes actors able to act not just the stuff that comes easy, but the stuff that's difficult and perhaps even a little repulsive for them?"

No need for your personal disgust with man lips to even enter the thread. You chose to emphasize that over and over, and even to make it your title.

[RealityChuck]

I would assume that in Pink Flamingos, it wasn't actual dog shit. I imagine your special effect people could come up with something with flour, sugar, and chocolate that looked close enough but was actually quite tasty.

[RealityChuck]

OTOH, there was the Herschel Gordon Lewis film where a girl was supposed to have her tongue ripped out (they didn't call him "King of Gore" for nothing). It was supposed to be a raw lamb's tongue (bad enough), but the tongue was purchased several days in advance and was improperly refrigerated and had begun to rot. Legend has it that they dosed it with Lysol, put it into the girl's mouth and shot the scene.

[Slypork]

I think the problem is that your title and your posts keep fixating on the gay thing.

Much better had you said, "I'm sure that most actors are, sooner or later, called upon to do things within their roles that they find distasteful or against their character. How do nice people play thugs? How do women who are champions of women's rights play battered prostitutes or abused wives? How do nice men play abusive husbands and pimps? How do people with no children play parents? How to people eat things against their usual diets, like bugs or even dogshit? How do people convincingly kiss or simulate sex with people they're not attracted to? What makes actors able to act not just the stuff that comes easy, but the stuff that's difficult and perhaps even a little repulsive for them?"

No need for your personal disgust with man lips to even enter the thread. You chose to emphasize that over and over, and even to make it your title.Look at the title again. It says
and vice versa (bolding mine) and my OP gave two, count ‘em two, examples of gay men playing straight roles and one example of straight actors in gay roles. I spoke as a straight man trying to figure out how a straight man could kiss another man for a role or a gay man could kiss a woman for a role. I couldn’t do it and wanted to see how they could.
Acting as a thug or battered person or whatever is pretend because they are not really beating people up or getting abused. Locking lips with another guy is not being done with CGI. That was Heath and Jake doing it. Since I have not seen anything about either one coming out of the closet I wanted to know how they prepared for the role, what motivated them, did they have to do any mental tricks? What did Rock Hudson have to do to get himself into the job when he had to kiss Doris?

[Fiver]

I would assume that in Pink Flamingos, it wasn't actual dog shit.

I saw an interview with John Waters wherein he claimed it was actual dog shit. He wasn't saying it transgressively, but with a shrug, as if they were all young and footloose and it was no big deal to any of the cast or crew.

[Slypork]

I would assume that in Pink Flamingos, it wasn't actual [QUOTE=RealityChuck]I would assume that in Pink Flamingos, it wasn't actual dog shit. I imagine your special effect people could come up with something with flour, sugar, and chocolate that looked close enough but was actually quite tasty. Sorry to disappoint you but it was real. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069089/trivia)

[Antinor01]

I would assume that in Pink Flamingos, it wasn't actual dog shit. I imagine your special effect people could come up with something with flour, sugar, and chocolate that looked close enough but was actually quite tasty.

Yes, it was actual dog feces. Divine was well known for her willingness to do anything.

[pizzabrat]

I would assume that in Pink Flamingos, it wasn't actual dog shit. I imagine your special effect people could come up with something with flour, sugar, and chocolate that looked close enough but was actually quite tasty.

Ha - you assume wrong. So very wrong. Pink Flamingos isn't a Hollywood piece filled with "movie magic". It's a feature-length stunt made by a then underground director (John Waters) for only 12,000 70's dollars. The dog feces eating finale was relatively well-publicized, and was filmed, without cutting, starting from before the dog took the crap to when the actor put it in his mouth, swallowed it, and gaped his maw at the audience.

[Poysyn]

When I was acting I had to kiss a guy that I can honestly say crossed the line from being not attractive to me being yucky. he was nice enough, he was just really scarggly, and a little smelly. And it was supposed to be the be all end all for my character.

It was acting.

But I would not eat dog feces or a pig's anus.

It's just kissing for goodness sake, and it's just lips. I am sure most of us have kissed (or done a lot more) with people that were not our cup of tea.

So pucker up!

[levdrakon]

How do actors comfortably perform parts that are counter to their sexual orientation?<snip>

I realize they are acting but isn’t there some level of repulsion to overcome?<snip>

So, what do the actors do to overcome the feelings? Do they think, “OK, I’ll just pretend it’s a really hairy girl?”<snip>

To clarify, I am disgusted at the thought of me doing it. If someone else likes it, fine. Not my bag, baby.

I couldn’t eat a live bug although some people do it all the time (I’m not just talking about Fear Factor but certain cultures think nothing of it and consider it a delicacy).

But if you were told to eat dog shit like they did in Pink Flamingos could you do it because it was a part and you were an actor?

Good god. I asked a question about how an actor could perform a part that would go against what they normally would consider repulsive.

I’m going to ask the mods to lock this thread because some people are too easily offended.You started a thread about how people handle parts counter to their sexual orientation. Then you ask if there's a level of repulsion to overcome. Then you say you're disgusted by it and you wouldn't eat a bug or dog shit either. Then, when you don't get the answers you want, you decide to have the thread closed because people are too easily offended. Riiiight.

You seem to just assume kissing a man is repulsive, disgusting, like eating bugs & dog shit, and wonder how actors deal with this.

Well, maybe they don't think it's repulsive, disgusting, like eating bugs & dog shit, and it's a moot point. Actors don't always feel the same way about it as you.

Sorry, but to me it just brings up disgust. I'm a man, was born that way. I just DON'T want to watch two men kissing. But then, I could never be an actor.I was born a man, and I do like kissing other men. Why are you speaking on behalf of men?

[Liberal]

Frankly, I think people were a bit heavy handed with the OP. It is, in fact, normal for a straight man to experience some level of repulsion at the notion of kissing another man. A straight man can't help that any more than a gay man can help his attraction to other men. He was very careful to disclaim any and all potential offense. I wish people had made this into an interesting discussion about how an actor pulls this off.

[Slypork]

You started a thread about how people handle parts counter to their sexual orientation. Then you ask if there's a level of repulsion to overcome. Then you say you're disgusted by it and you wouldn't eat a bug or dog shit either. Then, when you don't get the answers you want, you decide to have the thread closed because people are too easily offended. Riiiight.

You seem to just assume kissing a man is repulsive, disgusting, like eating bugs & dog shit, and wonder how actors deal with this.

Well, maybe they don't think it's repulsive, disgusting, like eating bugs & dog shit, and it's a moot point. Actors don't always feel the same way about it as you.

I was born a man, and I do like kissing other men. Why are you speaking on behalf of men?
I never claimed to speak on behalf of all men. I spoke on my own behalf. I am sure that somewhere in this world there are people who could not under any circumstances kiss a member of the same gender (I’m talking passionate kisses here, tonsil hockey, not a little peck). If this is not an issue for actors and actresses, then so be it.
I do not assume that kissing a man is repulsive to other people, only to myself. I have said that repeatedly throughout this thread. If you like kissing other men, have a great time! If you like eating broccoli or liver, have a great time! If you feel like kissing women, have a great time!
I don’t give a rodent’s rectum about people’s personal sex lives. I was asking about how actors are able to portray something that is opposite of their orientation without being bothered by it. You mean to tell me you don’t know any gay men who think that the idea of kissing a woman is gross? My uncle said that he tried it once and felt sick afterwards because it didn’t seem right for him and it was unnatural. Was he wrong for feeling that way? No. It just wasn’t something he could get past. Apparently this is not an issue with actors.

[Slypork]

Frankly, I think people were a bit heavy handed with the OP. It is, in fact, normal for a straight man to experience some level of repulsion at the notion of kissing another man. A straight man can't help that any more than a gay man can help his attraction to other men. He was very careful to disclaim any and all potential offense. I wish people had made this into an interesting discussion about how an actor pulls this off.OMG Liberal, I could kiss you for saying that (as long as you’re not a guy, of course ;) ).
This was supposed to be a simple question and answer sort of thing about the acting craft and it immediately got turned into, “How dare you be disgusted with that?” Again, to all people who answered my initial question, thank you for answering. Everyone else needs to lighten up.

[Antinor01]

I don’t give a rodent’s rectum about people’s personal sex lives. I was asking about how actors are able to portray something that is opposite of their orientation without being bothered by it. You mean to tell me you don’t know any gay men who think that the idea of kissing a woman is gross? My uncle said that he tried it once and felt sick afterwards because it didn’t seem right for him and it was unnatural. Was he wrong for feeling that way? No. It just wasn’t something he could get past. Apparently this is not an issue with actors.

I have kissed females before, usually as part of a game of truth or dare. That is not something I would do under normal circumstances but in that situation I had no problem with it because there was no question of attraction, desire, being turned on or anything else.

One time at a convention I frenched a lesbian friend. Neither of us have any attraction whatsoever to the opposite sex but decided to do it because we both consider ourselves great kissers and thought we should compare. (of course, we weren't completely sober either) She said I kiss too wet, but then what does she know. ;) Like the above, this had nothing to do with desire or attraction. It was more like a competition.

If I was going to be paid to be in a movie with the stipulation that my character was a ladies man getting all kinds of action, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

[Liberal]

I don't know that I would find it repulsive to the extent of nauseating or anything. I'm sure it would be discomforting. But for that kind of money, I'd be willing to whore myself pretty much any way they wanted it. Still, I'm not sure accomplished actors do it for the money since they likely have enough already. Maybe it's for love of the craft. Of course, you never know. They could be broke despite appearances to the contrary.

[picker]

Well I'm a straight man who, once or twice in my life, has kissed another man.

Crap, does this mean I'm an actor?

my mother will be so ashamed

[Slypork]

Anyone remember the movie Deathtrap? When Christopher Reeve and Michael Caine kissed it just totally blew a lot of women’s minds. How could the Man of Steel play a gay man? Nowadays it would be like Brad Pitt and George Clooney kissing.
I remember an interview where Caine said, “I told Chris that we could do the scene but if I felt a tongue I was going to deck him.” Apparently (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083806/trivia) it took a little booze to convince them.

[levdrakon]

I never claimed to speak on behalf of all men. I spoke on my own behalf. I am sure that somewhere in this world there are people who could not under any circumstances kiss a member of the same gender (I’m talking passionate kisses here, tonsil hockey, not a little peck). If this is not an issue for actors and actresses, then so be it.
I do not assume that kissing a man is repulsive to other people, only to myself. I have said that repeatedly throughout this thread. If you like kissing other men, have a great time! If you like eating broccoli or liver, have a great time! If you feel like kissing women, have a great time!
I don’t give a rodent’s rectum about people’s personal sex lives. I was asking about how actors are able to portray something that is opposite of their orientation without being bothered by it. You mean to tell me you don’t know any gay men who think that the idea of kissing a woman is gross? My uncle said that he tried it once and felt sick afterwards because it didn’t seem right for him and it was unnatural. Was he wrong for feeling that way? No. It just wasn’t something he could get past. Apparently this is not an issue with actors.I didn't say you claimed to speak on behalf of men. I was careful to quote the person who did.

As far as your uncle is concerned, why don't you ask him how he dealt with it? I'm gay and kiss women on the lips all the time and doesn't bother me one iota. In fact I like it. It's a nice expression of friendship.

As far as sitting at Lover's Point and making out for awhile, I've done that too. Didn't like it. Didn't throw up either. I just psyched myself into it and acted like I was into it. As others have said, it's just another person with lips. And a tongue. But really if you're going to play the role, then you just play the role. I didn't pretend I was making out with a guy. I psyched myself into pretending I enjoyed making out with a gal.

[OneCentStamp]

Anyone remember the movie Deathtrap? When Christopher Reeve and Michael Caine kissed it just totally blew a lot of women’s minds. How could the Man of Steel play a gay man?
I hope those women saw the recent Superman movie. :D

[Otto]

Frankly, I think people were a bit heavy handed with the OP. It is, in fact, normal for a straight man to experience some level of repulsion at the notion of kissing another man. A straight man can't help that any more than a gay man can help his attraction to other men.
"Attraction to other men" does not equal "repulsed by kissing women." As a man who thoroughly enjoys kissing other men, I have not gone "Kiss a girl? Eeew!" since approximately third grade. I don't excuse people who are "repulsed" at the idea of kissing someone of the same sex nor do I believe that it's "natural" to have a reaction as violent as "repulsion." Antipathy, sure, no problem, but if you have crossed from being uninterested in kissing someone of the same sex to being actively grossed out at the thought of it then you're a little bit messed up.

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

I wish people had made this into an interesting discussion about how an actor pulls this off.Some of us tried and are still being told to lighten up (presumably that is being directed at me). I questioned only the comparisson of "eating dog shit" to the OP, since it seemed neither relevent or particularly fair.

I have several friends who work professionally as actors in the film and theater industries. As I said above, when asked they all say roughly the same thing: Any dislike they have for their co-star (inlcuding natural sexual preferences/aversions) is far, far down on the list of things that go through their minds, during their performance. They have devoted days or weeks to developing their characters - getting inside their heads as well as the character's physicality. They defer to the character study because it's part of their job.

A role that had elements they really object to is a role they would not take. Example: A friend's agent wanted her to audition for a role that required sexual violence and she didn't feel comfortable with that and declined. Although as an audition piece, sometimes she does a monolog from "White Biting Dog" -- it's about eating vomit.

[Miller]

I do not assume that kissing a man is repulsive to other people, only to myself.

You don't? Because this sort of sounds like you do:

I realize they are acting but isn’t there some level of repulsion to overcome?

Being straight doesn't automatically mean that you're disgusted at having to kiss another guy. It's entirely possible to be straight and to consider kissing another man to not be a big deal. It's not like you have to either totally lust after someone, or be completly repulsed by them. There is, in fact, quite a bit of middle ground there, and that's without even taking issue with the traditional dualistic approach to sexual identity you've employed in this thread. It is, in fact, possible to be straight and still kind of enjoy kissing another guy.

[pulykamell]

Antipathy, sure, no problem, but if you have crossed from being uninterested in kissing someone of the same sex to being actively grossed out at the thought of it then you're a little bit messed up.

I don't know if I agree. I think it's a perfectly natural reaction for many men. I wouldn't necessarily say I'm repulsed by the thought of myself kissing another man, but I would be squeamish about it, yes. I'm also squeamish about the thought of kissing a girl I'm not attracted to. I doubt any person would consider me homophobic on any level.

[DeadlyAccurate]

Nowadays it would be like Brad Pitt and George Clooney kissing.

Funny you should mention that, because the first time I saw Ocean's Twelve, there was a scene with those two where my very first thought was, "Man, they really need to make out right about now."

[Otto]

Funny you should mention that, because the first time I saw Ocean's Twelve, there was a scene with those two where my very first thought was, "Man, they really need to make out right about now."
Yeah, like, every scene. Hot man-on-man action is the only thing that woulda saved that shitty movie.

[Fish]

I do community theater acting, so while I'm not an expert, I can say a little bit about the craft from that standpoint, though I've never been called upon to kiss another man on stage.

But whatever it is, you just ... you just do it. That's what acting is. I find it easy to do things on stage that are in service to the plot, because that's what has to happen next. You do what you have to do, and then afterward, it's over. It's not permanent. It's just a thing you did. So what?

What would I worried about? I know who I am. To paraphrase Seuss, "The people who mind don't matter, and the people who matter don't mind."

[TV time]

As I have mentioned a couple times on this board, in my youth I was an actor and made a decent living at it. No, I am nobody you would know. I retired from that profession not long after I got married. Most of my (read virtually all) took me away from home and that is no way to start a family.

Three or four years ago an actor and producer I had worked with contacted me and asked me if I would step in for a few months in a rep company because the person I would be replacing was injured in a car accident.

I asked what shows we were doing and in what parts were they looking at me for. The shows were Deathtrap as Sidney, Barefoot in the Park as Victor Valasco, a Russian piece called (as I remember) The Bride where I would be playing the father of the male lead and one other where I was basically scenery.

Sidney in Deathtrap is or at least pretends to be gay and kisses a guy in the show. But more to the point, it is a wonderfully malicious role. Sidney has so many subtle levels that I jumped at the part. I think most actors are more concerned about the part being a good part rather than if the character is gay or straight, smart or stupid, etc.

I know that I am not gay merely because the part is gay any more than I am a good-natured letch as Victor was in Barefoot. I was not really concerned with the kiss - well, I was concerned that it had to work for the character. As I said, He had so many levels.

I had a good time and I have done a couple of more shows since then since then when my real employers felt I could leave without major disruption.

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

But whatever it is, you just ... you just do it. That's what acting is. I find it easy to do things on stage that are in service to the plot, because that's what has to happen next. You do what you have to do, and then afterward, it's over. It's not permanent. It's just a thing you did. So what?When it comes to the internal process too, aiming for accuracy of what you're portraying, you don't think "Ew, I'm kissing a dude!" instead you draw on your experiences that most closely fit the scene.

For example, if it's supposed to be a "first kiss", you remember the emotions of the first time you kissed someone you loved. You remember how your heart was pounding in your chest, you remember the rush of andrenalin, the sweat of your palms, and how you peeked a little even though you were supposed to have your eyes closed, and how you could hear your blood rushing in your ears.

You're busy focusing on that so that your performance can reflect the nuances of all those things. If you think "Oh, ick, I cna't believe I'm kissing this person!" it draws you out of the headspace required to fulfill the role. It unmasks you and you become You Pretending, instead of Well-Rounded Character.

Someone who has been working diligently with a director will have created that artificial persona to fit the alternate reality they are presenting. You don't think about the things you wouldn't do, you remember the feelings of the things you would do.

[Spoke]

Boy, some of you fellows sure are touchy.

It is not at all unusual for a straight man to feel revulsion at the thought of kissing another man. I can tell you that I feel revulsion at the idea of me kissing another man. If you want to kiss another man...meh, doesn't bother me in the least.

Maybe my feelings are innate. Maybe they are a conditioned response. Either way, they're there.

I thought the bug-eating analogy was pretty apt, actually. The idea of eating a bug is gross to me, but in some cultures a grasshopper is a delicious part of a nutricious breakfast. More power to the people of those cultures. I don't dislike them for eating bugs. It's just not my thing.

Same deal with kissing a man.

Now, Miller suggests there's a continuum of feeling on this subject, and I'm sure that's so. I'm sure there are plenty of straight men who don't feel revulsion at the idea of a man-smooch. But the OP is not incorrect to believe that there are those who do.

[Spoke]

"nutritious," I meant

[Miller]

Now, Miller suggests there's a continuum of feeling on this subject, and I'm sure that's so. I'm sure there are plenty of straight men who don't feel revulsion at the idea of a man-smooch. But the OP is not incorrect to believe that there are those who do.

Certainly there are plenty of men who feel that way. But odds are that those actors who take roles which involve a lot of dude-kisses probably do not find the idea of kissing a man to be as revolting as the OP does. Which makes his question kind of moot. "How do straight actors overcome their revulsion towards kissing another man?" Easy answer: "They aren't revolted in the first place." The OP's question really only makes sense if one assumes that anyone would be repulsed at having to kiss someone of a gender to which they are not normally attracted.

[Otto]

Sidney in Deathtrap is or at least pretends to be gay and kisses a guy in the show.
Not to hijack completely, but I have read that the kiss is not in the original play. Were you working from the original script or were there alterations made following the film?

It is not at all unusual for a straight man to feel revulsion at the thought of kissing another man. I can tell you that I feel revulsion at the idea of me kissing another man. If you want to kiss another man...meh, doesn't bother me in the least.

Maybe my feelings are innate. Maybe they are a conditioned response. Either way, they're there.
It may not be unusual for straights to feel revulsion at the thought, but that doesn't make it acceptable. Not to pull out an overplayed analogy, but if someone came in here and posted something like "I don't mind if Jews like kissing other Jews, but I'm a Gentile and the idea of kissing a Jew puts me in mind of eating dog shit" there would be no end to the Pitting.

[Spoke]

It may not be unusual for straights to feel revulsion at the thought, but that doesn't make it acceptable.
Oh, come down off your cross, Otto. I don't give a damn if you kiss a man. Really, I don't. It's just not for me. If you don't find that "acceptable," then your offense-o-meter is set way too high.

[Spoke]

To bring back the bug analogy, it's like someone who loves eating grasshoppers insisting that there will be no justice until we live in a world where everyone thinks bugs are delicious.

[Phantom Dennis]

"Attraction to other men" does not equal "repulsed by kissing women." As a man who thoroughly enjoys kissing other men, I have not gone "Kiss a girl? Eeew!" since approximately third grade. I don't excuse people who are "repulsed" at the idea of kissing someone of the same sex nor do I believe that it's "natural" to have a reaction as violent as "repulsion." Antipathy, sure, no problem, but if you have crossed from being uninterested in kissing someone of the same sex to being actively grossed out at the thought of it then you're a little bit messed up.

Can't we have a middle ground here? I agree that somebody who's filled with abject revulsion at the idea of kissing a member of the same sex is probably a little messed up, but what about mild squeamishness? Kissing anybody is an emotionally charged action (at least for me), and I'd hardly expect anybody to feel apathetic about it. I feel the same way about kissing another man as I would a particularly unnatractive woman. Squeamish.

I think it's normal, and nobody should be compelled to feel guilty about.

[levdrakon]

To bring back the bug analogy, it's like someone who loves eating grasshoppers insisting that there will be no justice until we live in a world where everyone thinks bugs are delicious.No, no it's not. Since we're doing analogies, I think it's like going to the doctor and saying "doc, there's something wrong with my balls." Then the doctor goes, "ew, gross! I'm not touching your balls! That's like eating dog shit! Barf, barf, barf!"

I'd expect my straight male doctor to be a bit more mature and professional than that. Most actors are probably expected to be a bit more mature and professional too. Or they don't go into acting.

[Otto]

Oh, come down off your cross, Otto. I don't give a damn if you kiss a man. Really, I don't. It's just not for me. If you don't find that "acceptable," then your offense-o-meter is set way too high.
I'm not up on the cross, thanks. I'm responding to someone who analogized kissing a man to eating dog shit. And no, I don't find that acceptable and no, I am not going to stop saying that equating kissing another man to eating dog shit is not acceptable. And if you want to dismiss my finding the comparison of a man kissing another man to eating dog shit unacceptable as an overly-high "offense-o-meter" then that says more about you than it does about me. There's a huge difference between "it's not for me" and "the very thought of it fills me with revulsion."

[Spoke]

So do you eat grasshoppers, Otto? (I presume not.) Would you find the idea distasteful? Even repulsive?

But that doesn't mean you would hate or condemn someone who does enjoy grasshoppers, does it? You're OK with them doing that, aren't you? After all, there's nothing really wrong with eating bugs. They're perfectly nutritious. You just find them sort of gross.

Wouldn't you think it silly, though, if a grasshopper-eater got angry at you for expressing revulsion at eating bugs?

[Otto]

Again, there's a big difference between "it's not for me" and "the very thought of it fills me with revulsion" and if you don't, or can't, or won't understand that then clearly there's little point in our continuing to butt heads about it.

[Spoke]

I don't mean to "but heads" with you. I'm just trying to get you to understand my perspective.

I guess I'm saying you just can't dictate what people do or don't find personally repulsive. It's a matter of personal taste, which is not subject to fiat.

[Otto]

I guess I'm saying you just can't dictate what people do or don't find personally repulsive. It's a matter of personal taste, which is not subject to fiat.
I'm not suggesting that I can dictate what someone does or doesn't find repulsive. I never even intimated that I could. But neither can you dictate that I not find the notion of being presonally repulsed at the thought to be personally repulsive.

[pulykamell]

It may not be unusual for straights to feel revulsion at the thought, but that doesn't make it acceptable. Not to pull out an overplayed analogy, but if someone came in here and posted something like "I don't mind if Jews like kissing other Jews, but I'm a Gentile and the idea of kissing a Jew puts me in mind of eating dog shit" there would be no end to the Pitting.

So where does the continuum end? Am I allowed to feel revulsion at the thought of doing more than kissing another guy? Is it acceptable for me to repulsed by the thought of giving another man head? Or receiving anal sex? Or am I supposed to be perfectly comfortable with all these thoughts? Or am I "a little messed up" therefore?

I don't think the OP meant any offense in his statements and his comparisons to eating dog shit and bugs were rather inelegant and unfortunate. But I don't think it's "unacceptable" for heterosexual men to feel squeamish at the thought of kissing another man. Like I said, I feel that way about many women, too. If I'm not attracted to the person, I do not want to kiss them at all.

[DMark]

Getting back to the original subject - I think the problem is that as a non-actor, it is hard to accept the fact that two people can kiss (Male/Femaie, Female/Female, Man/Man) even if they hate each other, but make it look real to an audience.

I was in a musical - the male and female stars of the show were at one time real-life lovers, but it ended very badly - yet, despite the fact that they loathed each other off-stage, anybody watching the show in the audience would think they were a cute couple in love. It is called acting.

Acting often requires people to do things they don't normally do in real life - could you strip totally nude on stage in front of over a thousand strangers? I knew an actress and actor who did that on Broadway, 8 shows a week. She was a prude in real life and the guy was actually a very shy person - but they did it because that was part of the role they were playing.

It is equally difficult to play the part of a racist, or play the part of a pedophile, or to play the part of a Nazi or any number of roles that go against your real-life persona - but that is the job of a true actor.

But the main crux of your question - showing affection on stage, or on film, to a person you are not sexually attracted to - are you telling me every person you have ever hugged and kissed in your entire life was sexually attractive to you? You never once gave a quick kiss to grandma or Aunt Gertrude?

[Hostile Dialect]

How do actors comfortably perform parts that are counter to their sexual orientation?

Although I would be curious to know if actors playing roles in different sexual orientations have some kind of self-psychological trick up their sleeve, I would imagine most people who have that level of training and professional experience probably don't let it get to them.

Pretending to be straight probably comes naturally to gay actors--they've been doing it for all of their lives, or at the very least the early part of it. I mean, for Rock Hudson, denying his sexual orientation was what he did every minute of every day anyway--the only difference was when he was acting he got paid for it directly. It's a little different for Portia de Rossi, sure--she lives in a world where she can openly frolic around a mansion with Ellen DeGeneres and such--but you can't tell me she didn't spend years pretending to be straight.

[Walloon]

I do not assume that kissing a man is repulsive to other people, only to myself. I have said that repeatedly throughout this thread. If you like kissing other men, have a great time!You see, there's your problem. You can't imagine any middle ground between being "repulsed" by kissing other men and "liking" to kiss other men. But there is a middle ground. And in that middle ground are probably most actors. They may not be attracted to the person they are kissing, or even the gender, but neither are they repulsed by the idea.

Don't forget that middle ground, OK?

[Carnick]

You guys really are drama queens :D

[Nava]

First, part of that repulsion to kiss others (of whichever gender) is societal and therefore artificial. In Spain two women walking arm-in-arm on the street are assumed to be friends or relatives; people from other countries have been known to see that and ask "why are there so many lesbians in Spain?" :smack: What's your own reaction to two women walking arm-in-arm, or the taller one draping an arm over the shorter one's shoulders while the shorter one drapes an arm around the taller one's waist?

Second, the immense majority of (US movie and TV) actors seem to kiss only on the lips. You see two people who are supposed to have been married for several years having something that's supposed to be a passionate kiss and it's evident their lips are closed. You see two people who are in the middle of a torrid romance, in theory they're sticking their tongues into each other's throat, but it's evident their lips are closed. I'd be more worried about the lousy acting that represents than about whether I happen to like my co-kisser... any work I do, I want to do it right!

[lissener]

A good many gay porn stars are straight. If you can eat a bug for $50, you can do a whole lot more for a whole lot more.

[Liberal]

It may not be unusual for straights to feel revulsion at the thought, but that doesn't make it acceptable.Wow. You've become a bit of what you hate, haven't you? That revulsion of which you do not approve is akin to a motor response, like gagging. Haven't you ever simultaneously disliked something yourself very intensely while not minding whether others did or not?

Not to pull out an overplayed analogy, but if someone came in here and posted something like "I don't mind if Jews like kissing other Jews, but I'm a Gentile and the idea of kissing a Jew puts me in mind of eating dog shit" there would be no end to the Pitting.And hopefully, that's where they'd do it.

I'd expect my straight male doctor to be a bit more mature and professional than that. Most actors are probably expected to be a bit more mature and professional too. Or they don't go into acting.I think that's a good point. It may well be that, in the context of being an actor, I'd have a whole different mental approach to the idea. I've always been a bit suspicious of the efficacy of acting lessons, just on the principle that I've thought acting to be more of a natural talent than a learned one. But maybe just this sort of thing is what those classes are all about — learning to act far outside your normal self.

[TV time]

Not to hijack completely, but I have read that the kiss is not in the original play. Were you working from the original script or were there alterations made following the film?It was indeed after the film came out, but there was no indication that it had been changed from the original script. Honestly, I don't know.

[Otto]

Wow. You've become a bit of what you hate, haven't you?
Um...no?

[Liberal]

Um...no?You don't "approve" of a man being turned off by kissing men. How does it differ from people who don't approve of a man being turned on by kissing men?

[Otto]

"Turned off" is qualitatively different from "revolted." I'm turned off by the notion of kissing a woman but have somehow made it this far into my adult life without feeling revolted by it, or for that matter feeling the need to shore up my homosexual cred by loudly proclaiming that, even though you may like kissing girls, the idea of my doing it makes me want to barf. Yet every time the topic surfaces here, we get a parade of straight boys who feel the need to explain just how gross the idea of locking lips with another dude is to them. And yes, I do contend that having that level of revulsion at the idea of macking a guy indicates a problem in the person so revolted. I don't agree that it's "natural" and IMHO they need to get over it, and if they can't get over it they need to shut the hell up about it. I look at it exactly the same way I do as when people upon finding out that I'm a vegetarian feel compelled to speechify at length about how much they love eating flesh and how they could never give it up and how yummy-delicious meat is. If nothing else, it's kinda fucking rude.

[Slypork]

I didn't say you claimed to speak on behalf of men. I was careful to quote the person who did.

As far as your uncle is concerned, why don't you ask him how he dealt with it? I'm gay and kiss women on the lips all the time and doesn't bother me one iota. In fact I like it. It's a nice expression of friendship.

As far as sitting at Lover's Point and making out for awhile, I've done that too. Didn't like it. Didn't throw up either. I just psyched myself into it and acted like I was into it. As others have said, it's just another person with lips. And a tongue. But really if you're going to play the role, then you just play the role. I didn't pretend I was making out with a guy. I psyched myself into pretending I enjoyed making out with a gal.
I asked my uncle about it when he came out. He wanted to know if I had any questions, I asked when he knew he was gay. He said he had always known. I asked if he had ever been with a woman. He said that he had gone on one date when he was about 18 and she wanted to make out. He tried kissing her and giving in to the feeling but it felt wrong to him. His exact words were, “It just didn’t feel natural. I thought I was going to throw up.” I said, OK. That was all I wanted to know. He was my uncle, I loved him and didn’t give a shit if he was gay, straight or a Martian. He was my uncle, my godfather and my friend.

I can’t ask him any more about because he died in 1986 of what was then called ARC (AIDS Related Complex). I still miss him and am sorry my wife and kids never got to meet him. He was a great, kind man.

[Liberal]

If nothing else, it's kinda fucking rude.Speaking of rude, would it be at all possible for you to take your issues with this to the Pit and stop crashing this guy's Cafe thread? Pretty please? This is actually an interesting topic, and there are people who'd like to discuss it.

[Argent Towers]

And money knows no sexual orientation! $3 bills excepted.

Seriously. I would get down on my knees and blow Heath Ledger in a heartbeat for what Gyllenhaal made from Brokeback. I'd do it for half. I'd do it for an eighth. (An eighth of the salary.)

[Slypork]

Speaking of rude, would it be at all possible for you to take your issues with this to the Pit and stop crashing this guy's Cafe thread? Pretty please? This is actually an interesting topic, and there are people who'd like to discuss it.That’s twice you’ve tried to come to my rescue. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have seen your responses ion various threads and, although I seldom agree with you, I have found you to be one of the more pleasant posters on this board. You are truly a gentlemen (or lady, whichever applies). OK, to appease the PC Gestapo, you are a gentleperson.
I realize that maybe my feelings are either unpopular or I might not be expressing them clearly. I understand that I have offended some people because of my personal opinions. I am not now and never have said that my views are the correct ones or attempted to force them on other people. Maybe my examples were too extreme to some people. If I had simply said that I thought the idea of kissing another man was comparable to eating broccoli I probably would have offended a representative of the Broccoli Growers of America (and the BGA has a very tough lobby).

[Liberal]

Well, I thought it was an interesting topic, and one I've wondered about myself. I was in three highschool plays and one play in college during my only semester (Ionesco's Rhinoceros. I was Dudard, the French Lawyer.) So, I'm interested, if not very knowledgable, in dynamics like these. But I'm not sure at this point if it's ever going to happen. People tend to steer clear of a crashed thread outside the Pit. And sadly, it isn't a case where Otto had a thread going and you stopped in to say that you thought kissing men was gross. It was completely the other way around. And everything he has said that he can't stand in others is precisely what he is doing here. It's just... bizarre.

[Slypork]

Well, I thought it was an interesting topic, and one I've wondered about myself. I was in three highschool plays and one play in college during my only semester (Ionesco's Rhinoceros. I was Dudard, the French Lawyer.) So, I'm interested, if not very knowledgable, in dynamics like these. But I'm not sure at this point if it's ever going to happen. People tend to steer clear of a crashed thread outside the Pit. And sadly, it isn't a case where Otto had a thread going and you stopped in to say that you thought kissing men was gross. It was completely the other way around. And everything he has said that he can't stand in others is precisely what he is doing here. It's just... bizarre.I knew there was another reason I liked you! In high school our drama teacher attempted a production of Ionesco’s The Bald Soprano and several absurdist skits. I was Mr. Smith. Of course it was a total flop because the audience didn’t know what the hell was going on. They were expecting another Neil Simon comedy. Public high school students just weren’t ready for it.
Anyway, thank you again.

[Argent Towers]

I'll add that I played a gay cowboy (named "Jackson") in a one-act play four years before Brokeback Mountain. I didn't have to simulate homoerotic contact with another male, although I did enter the stage eating a banana. And I didn't have a problem with it at all.

[Bridget Burke]

Getting back to the original subject - I think the problem is that as a non-actor, it is hard to accept the fact that two people can kiss (Male/Femaie, Female/Female, Man/Man) even if they hate each other, but make it look real to an audience.......

It seems that lots of people on this thread have forgotten that the subject is professional actors. Not delicate folks who may have appeared in a high school play.

I've heard of several male/female couples who hated each other--but had torrid on-screen kisses.

Recently, I watched (again) the Buffy show where Angel & Buffy have their first kiss. The commentary notes they had a "breath" contest--trying to gross each other out by eating smelly stuff beforehand. David Boreanaz & Sarah Michelle Gellar are both apparently het & quite attractive. But they are able to separate "romance" from what they do before a camera.

[Antinor01]

I'll add that I played a gay cowboy (named "Jackson") in a one-act play four years before Brokeback Mountain. I didn't have to simulate homoerotic contact with another male, although I did enter the stage eating a banana. And I didn't have a problem with it at all.

Now that I would not enjoy at all. Bananas are rather gross.

[Slypork]

Now that I would not enjoy at all. Bananas are rather gross.But do you find them disgusting and offensive? How do you feel about other people eating them?
Kidding!!!!!

[Antinor01]

But do you find them disgusting and offensive? How do you feel about other people eating them?
Kidding!!!!!

Disgusting, but not offensive. Other people can eat them all they want but I'm a guy and wouldn't want to eat one myself. (I couldn't help saying that!) And yes, I would one if I was actor and the role called for it. ;)

Did my other posts help out with what you're looking for?

[Slypork]

Disgusting, but not offensive. Other people can eat them all they want but I'm a guy and wouldn't want to eat one myself. (I couldn't help saying that!) And yes, I would one if I was actor and the role called for it. ;)

Did my other posts help out with what you're looking for?Yes, thank you. You and the other people who explained about the actor’s craft have given me a good insight. I appreciate your responses.

[Otto]

Speaking of rude, would it be at all possible for you to take your issues with this to the Pit and stop crashing this guy's Cafe thread? Pretty please? This is actually an interesting topic, and there are people who'd like to discuss it.

. . .

And everything he has said that he can't stand in others is precisely what he is doing here.
The latter is a twisted interpretation on your part with no basis in reality. The former I take as your concession of my point. Thanks.

As for the topic at hand, I thought I summed it up pretty well back in post [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8158350&postcount=3]#3[/url].

[Otto]

Post #3 (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8158350&postcount=3)

[LANmom]

I’m not sure if this should stay in Café because it is related to acting or in some other forum but here goes:
How do actors comfortably perform parts that are counter to their sexual orientation? Rock Hudson with Doris Day or Susan St. James (multiple times), Heath Ledger with Jake Gyllenhall in Brokeback Mountain, T. R. Knight with Sara Ramirez in Grey’s Anatomy, etc?

I realize they are acting but isn’t there some level of repulsion to overcome? I’m a heterosexual male and do not find the idea of kissing another man at all appealing. Actually, the thought of actually doing it is a little disgusting to me. Please do not take this to mean I am homophobic. It just means I’m not turned on by guys, just like I’m not turned on by women with whips or doing dress-up fantasy acts with my wife.

So, what do the actors do to overcome the feelings? Do they think, “OK, I’ll just pretend it’s a really hairy girl?” or, “I’ll just close my eyes and think of Fred.” Do actors ever turn down roles because the parts require them to perform homosexual/heterosexual acts? Does this cause them problems?

If the mods think this should be moved, please feel free.
They ARE actors. I would feel repulsed kissing another person I didn't care a lot about no matter what their gender! But then, I am not an actor who is paid to do so.
I do find it amusing that Hollywood gets strait people to play gay characters all the time. What, they can't find any gay actors? I just think it is funny.

[Argent Towers]

What, they can't find any gay actors?

Not gay actors with leading-man star power, it seems. A lot of Brokeback Mountain's appeal came from its big-name stars. Had they gone with unknowns, the buzz wouldn't have been nearly as great.

Now, as to why there aren't Hollywood leading men who are gay - that's another question (I think we even had a thread on the very topic some months ago.)

[Argent Towers]

Not gay actors with leading-man star power, it seems. A lot of Brokeback Mountain's appeal came from its big-name stars. Had they gone with unknowns, the buzz wouldn't have been nearly as great.

Now, as to why there aren't Hollywood leading men who are gay - that's another question (I think we even had a thread on the very topic some months ago.)

Oh, and make that openly gay.

[Otto]

I do find it amusing that Hollywood gets strait people to play gay characters all the time. What, they can't find any gay actors? I just think it is funny.
There still isn't an enormous pool of openly gay name actors, and as noted none with the star power to carry a major studio motion picture. I disagree that BBM wouldn't have generated some buzz with openly gay actors in the role, because Ledger and Gyllenhall aren't stars of the same magnitude as say a Pitt or a Clooney, plus BBM wasn't a major studio film. Certainly having name actors helped though. Gay actors don't want to get typecast any more than str8 actors do, so they may have some hesitation about taking a large number of gay roles for fear of that typecasting.

As for why Tom Cruise I mean John Travolta I mean some hypothetical mega-watt star doesn't come out, it's all about the money, honey. The perception is still that the movie-going public won't accept gay actors in certain roles, especially action-adventure and romantic leads. The meme is that the little people in the dark have to be able to identify with the star (males) or think they have a chance with the star (females) and that a gay man in that type of role won't be accepted. The theory won't be put to the test until such time as a mega-watt star actually comes out but no such star has any motivation to come out and endanger their multi-million dollar paydays and no studio has any motivation to gamble tens of millions if not hundreds of millions of dollars to prove or disprove the hypothesis.

[OneCentStamp]

As for why Tom Cruise I mean John Travolta I mean some hypothetical mega-watt star doesn't come out, it's all about the money, honey. The perception is still that the movie-going public won't accept gay actors in certain roles, especially action-adventure and romantic leads. The meme is that the little people in the dark have to be able to identify with the star (males) or think they have a chance with the star (females) and that a gay man in that type of role won't be accepted. The theory won't be put to the test until such time as a mega-watt star actually comes out but no such star has any motivation to come out and endanger their multi-million dollar paydays and no studio has any motivation to gamble tens of millions if not hundreds of millions of dollars to prove or disprove the hypothesis.
C'mon, Vin Diesel, you can tell us. We'll still like ya. ;) :cool:

[storyteller0910]

Hijacks aside, this is a really good topic. I've done a fair bit of acting, and heard a lot of people speak about it, too, and I think that the whole idea of "becoming the character" and "not feeling grossed out by kissing another man because you're not you, you're your character" is sort of a myth. You don't actually become another person when you act. There is a part of you that is actually you, that is not the character at all, which must keep functioning at all times while you're acting. When you're onstage, for example, you must be able to keep a constantly running stream of thoughts completely separate from the character and the "moment": "make sure you stand so they can see your face my blocking says to go downstage right... now... crap project project they can't hear you crap her microphone fell off well I'll lean in closer so she can be heard did he drop a line I think he did I better cover and the song just started and it's a tricky rhythm so I'd better count it in my head 1-and-2-and-3-and GO." There is plenty of room in this stream for thoughts like: "my pants just ripped. Uh oh." Or "my mom is in the front row." Or even, "I'm kissing a man. This is kind of icky."

The key thing is that if you are a good actor, you can put that whole stream behind a wall. Your face, body, and eyes are visible, and your voice audible, to the audience; your thoughts are not. You can be as grossed out, turned on, frightened, uncomfortable, tired, or hungry as you want - if you have complete control over your voice, face, body, and eyes, it will never matter a bit.

I just finished doing a show with an actor who was in the process of passing a kidney stone. He was in overwhelming pain. Backstage he would stagger around. He was vomiting into garbage cans every five minutes or so. Onstage there was a part of him that was obviously not "being the character;" it was trying not to vomit, or thinking OW OW OW OW OW OW. But because he had complete control over his face, eyes, body, and voice, no one in the audience ever had a clue.

[Fish]

Exactly, storyteller. Since erie's "eating dogshit" metaphor didn't really get anywhere, I offer an alternative that is also the result of a certain amount of fundamental emotional programming in some cultures: undressing in public. We are taught to have a visceral reaction to doing so; it is not natural to us as biological beings. Some people overcome this and some don't, at the doctor's office, or with a lover, or at the swimming pool, or whatever.

Most stage actors have, at one time or another, had to change clothes backstage with other actors present, and certain had to change clothes in a dressing room with other people of the same sex. Some actors are better than others at recognizing their own learned behavioral conditioning than are others.

That's what acting is, really: knowing your own instrument, your body and your face and your hands and eyes, well enough to isolate the bits of your reaction that are "yours" and replace them with someone else's. Actors suppress their own (natural or learned) reactions all the time — the fear of going on stage, the urge to laugh at something funny, trying not to squint when the lights are in your eyes, the urge to flinch when you know that off-stage explosion or that prop gun is about to fire.

Besides, as has already been said, acting roles are self-selecting. There are undoubtedly actors who can't kiss someone of the same gender for the reasons you say. They don't get those roles.