David Furnish defends straight actors playing gay roles at Attitude Awards 2026: ‘It’s about who’s the best person’ (EXCLUSIVE)
“I’m not a fan of gay people should play gay people, and straight people should be straight people,” he said
By Aaron Sugg & Callum Wells
David Furnish has defended straight actors playing gay characters, arguing that casting should ultimately come down to who is “the best person for the role”.
Speaking to Attitude on the red carpet at the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards 2026, in partnership with M&S and electrified by Polestar, the producer was asked about the growing visibility of LGBTQ+ talent on screen and whether he believes queer roles should increasingly go to queer actors.
Furnish, whose husband Elton John was portrayed by straight actor Taron Egerton in the 2019 biopic Rocketman, said he does not believe actors should be restricted to roles based on their sexuality.
“It’s about the performer, the actor, and who’s the best person for the role” – David Furnish on straight actors playing gay roles
“I’m not a fan of gay people should play gay people, and straight people should be straight people,” he said. “I think, at the end of the day, it’s about the performer, the actor, and who’s the best person for the role.”
Furnish argued the casting of Egerton in Rocketman is a prime example of why he believes the conversation should remain centred on performance.
“I’m a producer, and I know from experience when we cast Taron Egerton to play Elton in Rocketman, Taron’s not a gay man,” he explained.
“And if we’d limited our search, we wouldn’t have found the best person for the role” – Furnish
“But it was very hard to find someone who could really capture the essence of Elton and perform him, you know, just like him, and be able to sing the songs.
“And if we’d limited our search, we wouldn’t have found the best person for the role,” he said. “I’m all for creating opportunities for everybody, but I also think, you know, you have to get the best person to play the role.”
The Attitude Awards returned for its 15th anniversary on Wednesday (7 October), hosted at London’s Roundhouse.
Attendees included Donatella Versace, Michael Johnston, Jordan Stephens, Sugababes, Pet Shop Boys and Orville Peck.