Star of “Will and Grace” Eric McCormack is going out of its way to defend straight actors who play gay characters on screen — highlighting that taking on roles other than yourself is the whole point of being an actor.
The actor, who is straight in real life and also played the famous gay protagonist Will on the hit NBC show, told ITV’s “Good Morning Britain” … that it’s all about casting the best person for the role, regardless of your personal identity.
Eric is drawing on his own experience in the industry, saying he didn’t become an actor just to play versions of himself — instead, he’s always embraced roles where he portrays someone entirely different from who he is.
He says, “It’s part of the show. And, I’ve always said, if gay actors couldn’t play straight actors, Broadway would be over.”
Even though Eric’s papers may not directly reflect his own life, that doesn’t mean he skimps on research. When it came to playing Will, he brought his A-game, drawing on his theater experience and the fact that many of his closest friends were gay… channeling his spirit into the role.
It worked really well… “Will & Grace” – co-starring Debra Messing, Sean Hayes It is Megan Mullally – ran for 8 seasons from 1998 to 2006 and added 3 reunion seasons from 2017 to 2020.
Last year, the Paley Center for Media gave “Will & Grace” high praise for its groundbreaking impact… hailing the show as a trailblazer for breaking barriers and paving the way for greater LGBTQ+ representation in media.