Neil Patrick Harris thinks being out and proud meant the It’s a Sin cast could ‘stand taller’
Neil Patrick Harris. (Getty)
Neil Patrick Harris has expressed his profound amazement at how younger generations view sexuality, saying: “The labelling and stigma is just not there.”
The It’s a Sin star, 47, opened up to Variety about his role in the heart-wrenching British drama – recently shown on HBO Max – that follows a group of queer friends in 1980s London, England, finding themselves in the shadow of the AIDS crisis.
He described how being part of a majority LGBT+ cast allowed them all to “shine brighter”, and how the flexible, queer-positive attitudes held by younger folk seem worlds away from what he grew up with.
“The gay-straight spectrum is totally different,” said Harris, who came out aged 33 in 2006.
“It seems that the labelling and the stigma is just not there. I’ve had good conversations with people, in their early 20s who are straight, but have fooled around with friends and that doesn’t weigh heavily on them.
“It was fun. They had fun. And now they have a girlfriend, and they are not troubled by it.
“It doesn’t define them. It was just a fun afternoon or evening. And I love that.”
It’s a Sin star Neil Patrick Harris as Henry Coltrane. (Channel 4)
It’s a Sin cast could ‘stand taller’ because most are queer, says Neil Patrick Harris
Neil Patrick Harris continued to hear praise on the cast of It’s a Sin, which has just been released on HBO Max in the US.
Being around so much queer talent, such as lead star Olly Alexander, electrified Harris, who said being around those who share your experiences of life allows them to feel free.
“I think that almost everyone uniformly when they’re able to not withhold information, they shine brighter,” Harris said of the castmembers.
“And I think the keeping of secrets is a bearing of weight. Holding weight just weighs you down and when you’re free from that weight, you are obviously able to stand taller.”
When wading into the long-simmering debate over non-queer actors playing queer roles, Harris said in January there is “something sexy” about straight actors playing gay.
The debate was ignited by Davies when he said he deliberately cast gay actors to play gay characters in It’s a Sin as they would bring authenticity to the show.
