Whatever role Darren Criss tackles next, he won’t be playing a gay man.
The actor, who won an Emmy for his portrayal of gay serial killer Andrew Cunanan in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” told Bustle in an interview published Tuesday that he has pledged not to play queer characters anymore in order to make space for LGBTQ actors in the industry.
“There are certain [queer] roles that I’ll see that are just wonderful,” he said. “But I want to make sure I won’t be another straight boy taking a gay man’s role.”
Criss, 31, has played several queer characters and became a household name thanks to his starring turn as gay high school student Blaine on the musical comedy series “Glee.” He then took Broadway by storm in the lead role in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”