18 straight actors who were praised for playing LGBTQ characters

Jacob SarkisianMay 30, 2020, 15:54 IST

Charlize Theron, Timothée Chalamet, and Chiwetel Ejiofor have all played LGBTQ characters.Newmarket Films/Sony Pictures Classics/Warner Bros. Pictures/Memento Films International/Buena Vista Pictures

Straight and cisgender actors are regularly cast in the roles of LGBTQ characters.
As a gay man, I share in the frustration around straight actors landing gay roles instead of a gay performer.
Some actors argue that LGBTQ roles should be kept for queer actors, with "Hollywood" star Darren Criss even promising never to play another queer character again.
However, others, like Cate Blanchett (who is straight) or Ben Whishaw (who is gay), believe that an actor should be able to play any character they like.
No matter what you believe, there some straight actors have given excellent performances playing LGBTQ characters.
Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal were Oscar-nominated for playing gay cowboys in "Brokeback Mountain," while Felicity Huffman was also up for a statue for playing a trans woman in "Transamerica."
Here are 18 straight actors who were praised for playing LGBTQ characters, listed chronologically by year of release.

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Hugh Grant played Clive Allen in 1987's 'Maurice.'

Directed by James Ivory. Cinecom Pictures

Hilary Swank played trans man Brandon Teena in 'Boys Don't Cry' in 1999.

Directed by Kimberly Peirce. Fox Searchlight Pictures

Charlize Theron played a bisexual serial killer in 2004's 'Monster.'

Directed by Patty Jenkins. Newmarket Films

Felicity Huffman played a trans woman in 'Transamerica' in 2005.

Directed by Duncan Tucker. The Weinstein Company/IFC Films

Chiwetel Ejiofor played a drag queen in 'Kinky Boots' in 2005.

Directed by Julian Jarrold. Buena Vista Pictures

Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal played Ennis and Jack in 'Brokeback Mountain' in 2005.

"Brokeback Mountain" won three Academy Awards. Focus Features

Sean Penn played gay activist Harvey Milk in 2008's 'Milk.'

Directed by Gus Van Sant. Focus Features

Colin Firth played a gay professor in 'A Single Man' in 2009.

Directed by Tom Ford. The Weinstein Company

Julianne Moore and Annette Bening played Jules and Nic in 2010's 'The Kids Are All Right.'

Directed by Lisa Cholodenko. Focus Features

Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara played Carol and Therese in 2015's 'Carol.'

Directed by Todd Haynes. StudioCanal/The Weinstein Company

Eddie Redmayne played trans woman Lilie Elbe in 2015's 'The Danish Girl.'

Directed by Tom Hooper. Focus Features/Universal Pictures

Trevante Rhodes played the adult version of Chiron in 'Moonlight' in 2016.

Directed by Barry Jenkins. A24

In 2017's 'Call Me By Your Name,' Timothée Chalamet played Elio.

Directed by Luca Guadagnino. Sony Pictures Classics/Warner Bros. Pictures/Memento Films International

In 2018's 'Love, Simon,' Nick Robinson played gay student Simon.

Directed by Greg Berlanti. 20th Century Fox

Taron Egerton played Elton John in 'Rocketman' in 2019.

Directed by Dexter Fletcher. Paramount Pictures

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