'Cucumber' actor: 'It's important straight actors play gay roles'

Vincent Franklin has condemned people that criticise straight actors for playing gay roles.

Frankln is set to appear as an openly gay character named Henry in Russell T Davies’ brand new Channel 4 gay-themed drama Cucumber.

In a new interview, the 46 year-old has argued that it’s “important straight actors play gay characters” while viewers still demand to know whether an actor is gay or straight in their personal lives.

“It’s irrelevant. Henry is gay. I played a Tory party spin doctor for five years and nobody said to me, are you really a Tory? But as soon as you play a gay character, people want to know if you’re really gay,” Franklin told The Guardian.

“It’s all just acting. What I do is pretending to be other people. They’re never me. I am 46, I have been in love, I have been unhappy, I have worried about the future, and all of these things that Henry’s doing,” he explained. “And if anybody from the straight or gay community says you’re an unconvincing homosexual, then that would be terrible, and I can only apologise.”

“I think it’s important that straight actors play gay characters until there’s no need for anyone to ask me that question,” he added.

Meanwhile, Cucumber creator Russell T Davies reveals some in-depth plot details about the highly anticipated show in the latest issue of Attitude – find out more here.

‘Cucumber’ actor: ‘It’s important straight actors play gay roles’

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