Ellen Page blasts Hollywood’s homophobia problem

"But now I’m gay, I can’t play a straight person?"

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Complex Original

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Hollywood's got diversity problems—and they're not exclusive to racism.

Ellen Page, who came out as gay in 2014, called out the entertainment industry's homophobia in an Elle UK interview set to publish on Thursday, according to The Guardian. The 28-year-old Oscar-nominated actress argued that her roles shouldn't depend on her or the character's sexuality.

“Zachary Quinto [of Star Trek fame] is out, and he stars in one of the biggest blockbuster franchises,” she said, according to The Guardian. “I have four projects coming up—all gay roles. People ask if I’m concerned about getting pigeonholed. No one asks: ‘Ellen, you’ve done seven straight roles in a row—shouldn’t you shake it up and do something queer?’" 

Page produced Freeheld, a drama about gay rights and U.S. public policy, in 2015. She believes that since then, she's only been offered queer roles: “There’s still that double standard. I look at all the things I’ve done in movies: I’ve drugged a guy, tortured someone, become a roller-derby star overnight. But now I’m gay, I can’t play a straight person?”

Her comments come a few days after British actor Sir Ian McKellen called out the Oscars' homophobia, asking why the academy has not yet awarded an openly gay man.

When discussing how actors Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Sean Penn have won Best Actor awards for playing gay men, McKellen said, “How clever, how clever,” according to The Guardian.

He asked, “What about giving me one for playing a straight man?"

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