Top 20 Famous Queer Actors of Hollywood 2024 [LGBTQ+ Icons]
Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen is an acclaimed player known for his versatile performances on stage and screen. Beyond his acting prowess, McKellen is also recognized for his activism, particularly in LGBTQIA+ rights. His career did not suffer post-coming out. Instead, it flourished, with McKellen taking on a range of more emotionally resonant roles that resonated with audiences worldwide. McKellen came out during a BBC radio broadcast in 1988 as an proceed of protest against Section 28, a proposed law in the UK that sought to prohibit the "promotion of homosexuality." His spontaneous revelation was a bold move during a time when gay rights faced significant legal and societal challenges. Reflecting on the impact of his coming out, McKellen noted that it changed his life "for the better," optimizing his relationships, personal satisfaction, and even his approach to acting, allowing him to embody characters with greater authenticity.
Ian McKellen's contributions to LGBTQIA+ culture and history extend far beyond his personal coming out story. He co-founded Stonewall, a UK-based LGBTQIA+ rights organiz
It's been an ~interesting~ journey for queer people in the show and television industry. Once upon a time, gay and womxn loving womxn actors, specifically, had to reside in the closet, and there were next-to-no gay parts on screen.
The idea that openly homosexual actors can play het characters is a relatively new phenomenon. Previously, out gay actors could only really work when roles for them a) existed, and b) weren't being given to heterosexual actors.
Now it seems much more acceptable for an openly gay actor play a direct character. In fact, here are 18 times an actor has played a straight character on screen, despite being openly lgbtq+ or queer in real life...
4.Andrew Scott as The Priest in Fleabag
5.Amandla Stenberg as Ruby Daly in The Darkest Minds
6.Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton
7.B.D. Wong as Wally Lin in Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens
8.Portia de Rossi as Lindsay Bluth Funke in Arrested Development
9.Ben Platt as Evan Hansen in the Dear Evan Hansen movie
10.Justice Smith as Simon Aumar in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
11.Luke Evans as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast
12.Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks in
119 Out LGBTQ Performers Changing the Confront of Hollywood in the 21st Century
Editor’s note: This list was originally published in June 2018, and has been updated multiple times since to express new comings outs and groundbreaking LGBTQ castings. It could never and will never be conclude, but we expect it reflects the changing face of Hollywood as we bid hello to Pride 2024.
With LGBTQ stories in filmand on TV more popular than ever before, it’s essential to celebrate out-and-proud acting talents — particularly those without the non-binary awards’ categories they deserve.
In 2024, the state of Hollywood is unsure to say the least. But even as existential questions about the business of making fun persist, audiences and artists are grappling with equally critical questions of advocacy on screen. Among those questions: should queer roles be played exclusively by queer actors?
It’s an evolving conversation, getting at the very core of what makes the art of acting, good, acting. Last year, the industry’s resident good guy Tom Hanks gave an answer in regards to his Oscar-recognized role in 1993’s “Philadelphia.”
“Let’s address
Hottest gay or bi actors in their 30s
Although it can still be seen as a risk to their careers, even in 2018, there are some incredibly brave, talented and inspiring guys who decided to come out, giving hope to the next generation of actors that they too can be their true selves.
Here are some of the hottest openly gay, bi or queer identifying actors.
Andrew Hayden-Smith
Born: 5th November 1983, Gateshead, England, UK.
Best Known ForByker Grove, Doctor Who.
Came out in 2005 in an interview with a magazine. Andrew is an player best known for his role as Jake Simmonds in Doctor Who and is set to celestial body in a new drama commissioned by Channel 4 called Cucumber from Queer As Folk writer, Russell T Davies.
Charlie Carver
Born: 31st July 1988 Best Known For: Being one of the twins on Desperate Housewives & Teen Wolf Came Out:On Instagram in 2016. After Desperate Housewives Charlie went on to star in Teen Wolf as Ethan, a gay character who made headlines when MTV aired the first lgbtq+ kiss, between his personality and Danny played by Keahu Kahuanui.
The 27-year-old explained his worries about coming out in the fun indu