Gay british actors

Famous Gay Brits

Read a listing of famous gay British men and women.

Further facts on many of the listed entries on gay and trans British men, women and transsexuals are available via accompanying links.

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Marc Almond (1957-) - head singer of 80s new wave band Soft Cell now with a solo career spanning four decades. In his autobiography he writes that he dislikes the label "gay artist" as it "enables people to marginalize your serve and reduce its importance, implying that it won't be of any interest to anyone who isn't gay."

John Amaechi (1970-) - a former professional basketball player, he is now a consultant, sports commentator and psychologist. Born in the US but brought up in Stockport, Greater Manchester, Amaechi moved assist to the US to play with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1995. He came out as gay in his 2007 book, Man in the Middle.

Mark Ashton (1960-1987) - gay activist and co-founder of Lesbians and Gays Assist the Miners (LGSM). His life was cut short by AIDs. He is portrayed by star Ben Schnetzer in the 2014 film, Pride.

W. H. Auden (1907-1973) - powerful poet, travel scribe and professor, he he best recognize

Many of the greatest British actors have reputations that kind of precede them. While making 1976’s Marathon Man, the great American procedure actor Dustin Hoffman told his equally great co-star, legendary British thesp Laurence Olivier, that he had stayed awake for 72 straight hours to prepare for a scene in which his character had been up for three solid days. ‘My dear boy,’ Olivier is said to have repied, ‘why don't you try acting?’ 

However, in spite of what this possibly apocryphal anecdote would have you believe, there is no one British ‘style’ of acting. To prove the point, here are our picks for the greatest British acting talent of all-time: they’re a dazzling varied company of sleek leading ladies and men, naturalistic character actors, and one or two delightfully hammy scene-stealers. And they’re all unforgettable in their own way.

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National Grid – Highest 12 LGBT+ Celebrities

In alphabetical order

This category recognises LGBT+ celebrities who have appear out in the face of adversity or who back the LGBT+ collective in a positive way.

ALAN CUMMING

Alan has been championing and campaigning for the LGBTQ+ community for decades, with a particular focus on raising money for various Aids charities. The beloved double attraction actor cemented his status as a queer icon in the late 90s when a Fresh York Observer profile described him as “a frolicky pansexual sex symbol for the new millennium”. The Scottish artist, whose trophy cabinet boasts gongs from the Laurence Olivier Awards, two Tony Awards, a Bafta and more, was crucial in helping to legalise gay marriage in Scotland in 2014 and has raised thousands for multiple charities.

ANDREW SCOTT

Over recent years, the gifted Irish actor has been busy collecting things: Bafta and Olivier Awards (most recently winning for his role in NoĂ«l Coward’s Present Laughter at the Vintage Vic), Emmy nominations and a loyal cult following of loyal fans. The ‘Hot Priest’ from Fleabag won praise earlier this year when he called for the media and society a

Let’s Settle This: Can Unbent Actors Play Gay Roles?

No way. Well, maybe? Sometimes. Okay — yes. Of course! We’re all human beings at the cease of the day 
 and sexuality is on a spectrum, right? Acting is acting!

This whirlwind of contradictory answers flutters through my uncharacteristically conflicted intellect every time I seek to answer this scrutinize. It’s a debate we’ve seen time and second again, most recently when many high-profile names leapt to the defence of Jack Whitehall being cast as Disney’s first openly gay character. So I’m by no means the first person to talk on this seemingly unsolvable debate, but with the recent release of Supernova — Hollywood’s latest homosexual film starring Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci — I’m throwing my coin into the hat for good measure.


Gaslighting queer folk

Netflix’s Disclosure (well worth a watch) beautifully highlighted the importance of casting transgender actors in trans roles — or should I say, the harm of casting cisgender actors in trans roles. But the casting of gay roles remains more of a grey area than you realise. As an performer and a gay bloke, I find myself caught in the middle of this debate, straddling both sides of