14 DAY TRIAL // British actor Rupert Everett came out about 20 years ago and, he says, in the meantime, he’s come to learn that that was the worst decision he could have ever possibly made as it ruined his career in Hollywood. Speaking from his own experience, he’s now urging other stars in his situation to keep their orientation a secret – that is, if they really want to make a living in Tinseltown, The Sun quotes him as saying.
Being different and openly speaking out about it is a no-win situation in the movie industry, Everett says. He, for instance, started off pretty good for a British actor (as they are known to have some difficulties when breaking on the US market), but it all came to a dead end once he came out. Granted, no one would ever say to him that it was because his personal choices that he was being shoved aside but, deep down, he always knew it was that which would not buy him a second chance, he says.
“It’s not that advisable to be honest. It’s not very easy. And, honestly, I would not advise any actor necessarily, if he was really thinking of his career, to come out... […] It just doesn’t work and you’re going to hit a brick wall at some point. You’re going to manage to make it roll for a certain amount of time, but at the first sign of failure, they’ll cut you right off,” Everett says. In his own case, the “cutting off” occurred as he started to be denied lead roles and offered only supporting parts that played on stereotypes.
“And I’m sick of saying: ‘Yes, it’s probably my own fault.’ Because I’ve always tried to make it work and when it stops working somewhere, I try to make it work somewhere else. But the fact of the matter is, and I don’t care who disagrees, it doesn’t work,” the actor adds. However, he sees himself as a happier person than those very actors he is now offering advice to. “I think, all in all, I’m probably much happier than they are. I may not be as rich or successful, but at least I’m vaguely free to be myself,” Everett says.
However, several major media outlets are pointing out that, while offers for lead parts certainly do seem to be avoiding him, the supporting roles he’s got so far are not that shabby at all. Everett was seen opposite Julia Roberts in the critically acclaimed romantic comedy “My Best Friend’s Wedding” and then lent his voice to Prince Charming in the “Shrek” movies.