Cumming: 'Hollywood is homophobic'

From: DigitalSpy.
By Simon Reynolds.

X-Men 2 star Alan Cumming has admitted that media scrutiny keeps gay actors from coming out.

Speaking to the BBC, Cumming said: "I don't think the people that go see films care that much - the media make it more of a deal and it's made into controversy.”

The 43-year-old, who married his partner Grant Shaffer last year, expressed concern about Hollywood's homophobia.

He added: "There is a lot of homophobia in the world - but in Hollywood definitely."

The Scottish actor responded to claims from Stephen Fry and Rupert Everett that gay actors were typecast, saying: "Some of them do [get typecast], but lots of straight actors get pigeonholed in various roles.

"I don't think that I only play gay characters, or I wouldn't be as convincing if I had a wife or a girlfriend in a movie.

"Derek Munn, director of public affairs for Stonewall which promotes equality for gay people, said: "The pitifully low number of openly lesbian or gay actors suggests that there is a problem. The film industry needs to think about why it is that gay actors choose not to come out."